2026 SoCon Football Preview: Furman's 'Patient Progress' Has It Built For a Title Run Again
Furman Head Coach Clay Hendrix
Patient Progress
2026 Overview
Coming off what was a season of improvement, Furman has retained enough experience and talent that should make it a factor in the Southern Conference race this fall. Furman is never going to be a football program that becomes reliant on the transfer portal, so therefore, that means the Paladins will develop the talent they retain each year in 2-3 year cycles, with a team ready to make some noise nationally every three years or so.
The Paladins are in a new era, and that's not lost on head coach Clay Hendrix, who enters his 10th season at the helm of Furman's football program. The Paladins even started with this philosophy during COVID-19 of a phrase I kind of just made up...Developmental retention.
For the first time since 2023, the Paladins now appear to have the pieces to be relevant nationally once again and be competitive as a program atop the Southern Conference and one that could make some noise in the FCS postseason.
As far as the team's in the SoCon, only Wofford returns more personnel from last season than Furman does on both sides of the ball. No team in the league returns as many defensive contributors from 2025 as the Paladins do in the SoCon, as the Paladins retained 66.7% combined contributors on the defensive side of the football from last season.
While big-time performer and All-SoCon safety Taylen Blaylock has moved on, the Paladins retain a significant amount of their front seven from a year ago. Blaylock was a player that was not only the best on the defensive side of the ball last season for the Paladins, but might have been the best on either side of the ball.
The graduate transfer, who was in his final season of eligibility last fall, helped set the tone for the turnaround season in 2025, as he picked off a William & Mary pass and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown, giving the Paladins their first points of the season in what would also turn out to be the first of six wins for the Paladins in 2025, as Furman would hold on for a 23-21 win.
All told, Blaylock would close the campaign second on the team in tackles, posting 76 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, five pass breakups, a pair of INTs and one touchdown. As good as Blaylock for the Paladins last season, he somehow didn't manage to garner a spot on either of the All-SoCon teams last season. Blaylock was invited to rookie camp with the Indianapolis Colts this past spring.
Furman does return its top defensive player and one of the top defensive players in the nation from a year ago, in defensive end and edge rusher Joshua Stoneking, who led the nation in sacks (14.5) and tackles-for-loss (23.0) last season, while his 79 tackles led the Paladin defense in 2025.
He finished second in the voting for the prestigious Buck Buchanan Award, which is given to the top defensive player in the FCS. Despite turning in better numbers in all three categories, he finished second to Mercer's talented sophomore defensive end Andrew Zock.
Furman's defense went from surrendering a school-record 431.5 YPG last season to yielding 414.8 YPG last season, trimming a point off the points surrendered per game from 32.7 PPG in 2024 to 31.0 PPG last season. The Paladins saw a big improvement in their pass rush, thanks to the breakout campaign from Stoneking, who had over half the team's 26 sacks from 2025, and the 26 quarterback takedowns were six more than the 20 sacks amassed by the 2024 squad.
With the likes of Stoneking, All-SoCon Freshman team pick Demetrius Baldwin, and Garrison Butler all back along the defensive front, the Paladins are primed to have one of the top defensive lines in the FCS much like they had back in 2023, when they made a run all the way to the FCS Quarterfinals before losing a heartbreaker to national runner-up Montana, 35-28, in overtime.
Furman should also be solid at linebacker this fall, as some experience and know-how returns in the form Ryan Earl, who was a preseason All-SoCon pick before seeing his season end abruptly after an injury against Campbell, while others like Tanner Schuck and Raleigh Herbert are also return to what should be a solid unit this fall. Keep an eye on Caleb Ellison at outside linebacker this fall.
His speed and athleticism and ability to come up and make plays against the run, as well as provide pressure off the edge for the Furman defense this fall could be key. He might be Furman's best athlete on the defensive side of the ball and will also likely once again be a contributor on special teams this fall.
The biggest question marks on the defensive side of the football entering the season will be with the defensive backfield, which has seen more struggles than any other unit on the defensive side of the football each of the past two seasons. Last fall, the Paladins ranked 92nd nationally in pass defense last season, surrendering 239.5 YPG through the air last season.
The problem wasn't necessarily at safety, where the Paladins got solid play from the aforementioned Taylen Blaylock, as well as Billy Lewis last season. Blaylock has of course moved on; however, Billy Lewis and AK Burrell do return at the other two safety positions.
The bigger questions for the Paladins heading into the season will be at the cornerback spots, where the Paladins have been especially young and at times, injured over the past two seasons.
While AJ Seay and Eddie Jackson III have moved on, the Paladins welcome the return of Daco Coleman and Jordan Miller return as a couple of holdovers at corner, while the Paladins made some additions from the transfer portal at the cornerback, as Trae Williams (Air Force Prep) and Michael Woods Jr. (Northwood) should add some experience at corner, while Joshua Tarver (Yale) will be a nice addition to the safeties with the graduation of Blaylock.
There are a lot more questions to be answered on the offensive side of the football entering the 2026 season, and it all starts with how effectively the Paladins are effectively able to replace Trey Hedden at quarterback this fall. The Paladin offense looked anemic at times in each of the past two seasons with Hedden leading the offense, as the Paladins struggled to score points effectively over the duration of the 2024 and '25 seasons, respectively.
Over the past couple of campaigns, Furman scored 30 or more points in a game just four times in 23 games in the past couple of campaigns, with all four of those coming last season. In the 2022 and '23 seasons, the Paladins achieved the feat a combined nine times, with five in 2022 and four in '23.
Last season, the Paladins finished the season averaging 24.4 PPG, which ranked them 68th overall in scoring offense in FCS. That was five more points than the 19.6 PPG the Paladins averaged during the '24 campaign, which ranked Furman 103rd out of 123 teams ranked in FCS for that season.
Furman's primary problems offensively each of the past two seasons have been primarily that, in a nutshell, the Paladins have been one-dimensional with an anemic ground attack and an immobile quarterback. Both problems helped facilitate ill-advised decisions in the passing game, which led directly to some careless turnovers.
Over the past couple of seasons, Paladin quarterbacks totaled a combined 27 INTs over the course of the past 23 games in 2024 and '25, while the Paladins have also lost 15 fumbles in the past couple of campaigns, as Furman has a combined 42 turnovers in its last 23 games. Dating back to 1973, Furman's 27 INTs thrown in two seasons is its most combined in any two-season window.
With Hedden now gone, there are four viable candidates to replace him this fall, with transfers Connor Ackley (Western New Mexico) and Jake Garcia (Michigan) will be the two frontrunners to be under center for the Paladins when they take the field on Aug. 27 against Anderson.
Running back for Furman has been almost a non-existent position since the graduation of Dominic Roberto, however, CJ Nettles did begin to emerge as a legitimate running threat for the Paladins as a true freshman this past season, and he along with Ben Croasdale and Michigan transfer CJ Stokes will be the main options in what should be a much-improved running game this fall.
No place were the Paladins hit harder by the transfer portal and graduation than at wide receiver, as Furman must replace two of its top pass-catchers for a second-straight season, with both Evan James and Ja'Keith Hamilton opting to transfer up to the FBS level during the off-season, with James, who was a record-setting freshman wideout for the Paladins this past season, moving on to Iowa, while Ja'Keith Hamilton opted to continue his career at East Carolina.
Heading into the 2025, Furman faced a similar dilemma at wideout, with the top three receivers lost, including leading wideout Colton Hinton, who moved on to Coastal Carolina via the transfer portal, while second-leading receiver Ben Ferguson was forced to into early retirement due to an injury.
The good news is that Furman has some capable returning pass-catchers, as it was arguably Furman's deepest position on offense last fall, with an impressive reservoir of talent. Devin Hester Jr. and Ethan Harris are two of the top returning wideouts, while the Paladins should see Tennessee Tech graduate transfer Luke Shields and UCF graduate transfer Dwartney Wortham able to contribute right away.
At tight end, Joshua Burrell spent two seasons at Furman splitting time with Jackson Pryor. However, Burrell decided to transfer back to the FBS level, moving on to Arkansas State, and Pryor, who missed most of last season after garnering SoCon All-Freshman honors in 2024, is back fully healthy and expected to once against be a primary target in the Paladin passing game as the penciled in starter at tight end heading into 2026.
Just one starter is back along the offensive line for the Paladins, with center Chris Luna set to anchor the unit this fall. There are two players returning with starting experience, however, as Eli Brasher is back, where he started the first eight games at left left tackle last season before suffering a season-ending injury. He will be the veteran-most leader along the offensive front this season for the Paladins.
Set to supplement what returns in terms of starting experience along the offensive front for Furman this fall will be guys like Stephen O'Dell at offensive guard, as well as Chase Gregorek at offensive tackle, as well as center Brady Smith, and guard Bryce Rainwater. Among the graduate transfers expected to immediately be plugged in for support as potential immediate starters along the offensive line include West Georgia transfer Alofaletauia Maluia and Memphis transfer Parker Peterson.
The special teams should be in good shape in the return game with both Caleb Ellison and Devin Hester Jr. back to help handle the punt and kick return duties, respectively, this fall. For the first time in four years, there are some questions about the kicking game entering the campaign, with All-SoCon place-kicker Ian Williams having moved on. Williams handled both the punting and kicking duties for the Paladins each of the past two seasons.
Gray Glitter appears to be ready to step into the role at punter this fall after having backed up Williams the past two seasons, while Nathaniel Chapman and redshirt freshman Bruce Brown figure to compete to replace Williams at place-kicker, with an open competition to ensue for the job in fall camp.
Furman's 2026 schedule is somewhat favorable, with the season opening on a Thursday night at home for the third time in five seasons, as the Paladins will welcome in Anderson University on Aug. 27 for the season opener before heading for SEC member and perennial college football playoff contender Tennessee on Sept. 5. Furman will open SoCon play on Sept. 12 at defending champion Mercer before facing Celebration Bowl winner South Carolina State at Paladin Stadium on Sept. 19. The Paladins will close out non-conference place on Sept. 26, heading to Richmond.
Despite a 10th team being added as a result of Tennessee Tech joining the league on July 2, 2026, every team in the SoCon will maintain an eight-game SoCon slate this season. With Furman and Tennessee Tech slated to face off against each other on Oct. 5 in Cookeville, Furman will see its game with fellow Volunteer State rival East Tennessee State disappear from its conference slate for at least the 2026 season.
Now its time to see if that patience has paid off and truly just how much progress this team has made over some tough times, which has seen the Paladins go 9-14 since those back-to-back 10-win campaigns in 2022 and '23. There is plenty of momentum for Furman football heading towards another potentially big season, which could include a 16th SoCon title and returning to the FCS Playoffs for a 21st time in program history this fall.
FURMAN FOOTBALL TRADITION
For the first time since 2023, the Paladins now appear to have the pieces to be relevant nationally once again and be competitive as a program atop the Southern Conference and one that could make some noise in the FCS postseason.
As far as the team's in the SoCon, only Wofford returns more personnel from last season than Furman does on both sides of the ball. No team in the league returns as many defensive contributors from 2025 as the Paladins do in the SoCon, as the Paladins retained 66.7% combined contributors on the defensive side of the football from last season.
While big-time performer and All-SoCon safety Taylen Blaylock has moved on, the Paladins retain a significant amount of their front seven from a year ago. Blaylock was a player that was not only the best on the defensive side of the ball last season for the Paladins, but might have been the best on either side of the ball.
The graduate transfer, who was in his final season of eligibility last fall, helped set the tone for the turnaround season in 2025, as he picked off a William & Mary pass and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown, giving the Paladins their first points of the season in what would also turn out to be the first of six wins for the Paladins in 2025, as Furman would hold on for a 23-21 win.
All told, Blaylock would close the campaign second on the team in tackles, posting 76 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, five pass breakups, a pair of INTs and one touchdown. As good as Blaylock for the Paladins last season, he somehow didn't manage to garner a spot on either of the All-SoCon teams last season. Blaylock was invited to rookie camp with the Indianapolis Colts this past spring.
Furman does return its top defensive player and one of the top defensive players in the nation from a year ago, in defensive end and edge rusher Joshua Stoneking, who led the nation in sacks (14.5) and tackles-for-loss (23.0) last season, while his 79 tackles led the Paladin defense in 2025.
He finished second in the voting for the prestigious Buck Buchanan Award, which is given to the top defensive player in the FCS. Despite turning in better numbers in all three categories, he finished second to Mercer's talented sophomore defensive end Andrew Zock.
Furman's defense went from surrendering a school-record 431.5 YPG last season to yielding 414.8 YPG last season, trimming a point off the points surrendered per game from 32.7 PPG in 2024 to 31.0 PPG last season. The Paladins saw a big improvement in their pass rush, thanks to the breakout campaign from Stoneking, who had over half the team's 26 sacks from 2025, and the 26 quarterback takedowns were six more than the 20 sacks amassed by the 2024 squad.
With the likes of Stoneking, All-SoCon Freshman team pick Demetrius Baldwin, and Garrison Butler all back along the defensive front, the Paladins are primed to have one of the top defensive lines in the FCS much like they had back in 2023, when they made a run all the way to the FCS Quarterfinals before losing a heartbreaker to national runner-up Montana, 35-28, in overtime.
Furman should also be solid at linebacker this fall, as some experience and know-how returns in the form Ryan Earl, who was a preseason All-SoCon pick before seeing his season end abruptly after an injury against Campbell, while others like Tanner Schuck and Raleigh Herbert are also return to what should be a solid unit this fall. Keep an eye on Caleb Ellison at outside linebacker this fall.
His speed and athleticism and ability to come up and make plays against the run, as well as provide pressure off the edge for the Furman defense this fall could be key. He might be Furman's best athlete on the defensive side of the ball and will also likely once again be a contributor on special teams this fall.
The biggest question marks on the defensive side of the football entering the season will be with the defensive backfield, which has seen more struggles than any other unit on the defensive side of the football each of the past two seasons. Last fall, the Paladins ranked 92nd nationally in pass defense last season, surrendering 239.5 YPG through the air last season.
The problem wasn't necessarily at safety, where the Paladins got solid play from the aforementioned Taylen Blaylock, as well as Billy Lewis last season. Blaylock has of course moved on; however, Billy Lewis and AK Burrell do return at the other two safety positions.
The bigger questions for the Paladins heading into the season will be at the cornerback spots, where the Paladins have been especially young and at times, injured over the past two seasons.
While AJ Seay and Eddie Jackson III have moved on, the Paladins welcome the return of Daco Coleman and Jordan Miller return as a couple of holdovers at corner, while the Paladins made some additions from the transfer portal at the cornerback, as Trae Williams (Air Force Prep) and Michael Woods Jr. (Northwood) should add some experience at corner, while Joshua Tarver (Yale) will be a nice addition to the safeties with the graduation of Blaylock.
There are a lot more questions to be answered on the offensive side of the football entering the 2026 season, and it all starts with how effectively the Paladins are effectively able to replace Trey Hedden at quarterback this fall. The Paladin offense looked anemic at times in each of the past two seasons with Hedden leading the offense, as the Paladins struggled to score points effectively over the duration of the 2024 and '25 seasons, respectively.
Over the past couple of campaigns, Furman scored 30 or more points in a game just four times in 23 games in the past couple of campaigns, with all four of those coming last season. In the 2022 and '23 seasons, the Paladins achieved the feat a combined nine times, with five in 2022 and four in '23.
Last season, the Paladins finished the season averaging 24.4 PPG, which ranked them 68th overall in scoring offense in FCS. That was five more points than the 19.6 PPG the Paladins averaged during the '24 campaign, which ranked Furman 103rd out of 123 teams ranked in FCS for that season.
Furman's primary problems offensively each of the past two seasons have been primarily that, in a nutshell, the Paladins have been one-dimensional with an anemic ground attack and an immobile quarterback. Both problems helped facilitate ill-advised decisions in the passing game, which led directly to some careless turnovers.
Over the past couple of seasons, Paladin quarterbacks totaled a combined 27 INTs over the course of the past 23 games in 2024 and '25, while the Paladins have also lost 15 fumbles in the past couple of campaigns, as Furman has a combined 42 turnovers in its last 23 games. Dating back to 1973, Furman's 27 INTs thrown in two seasons is its most combined in any two-season window.
With Hedden now gone, there are four viable candidates to replace him this fall, with transfers Connor Ackley (Western New Mexico) and Jake Garcia (Michigan) will be the two frontrunners to be under center for the Paladins when they take the field on Aug. 27 against Anderson.
Running back for Furman has been almost a non-existent position since the graduation of Dominic Roberto, however, CJ Nettles did begin to emerge as a legitimate running threat for the Paladins as a true freshman this past season, and he along with Ben Croasdale and Michigan transfer CJ Stokes will be the main options in what should be a much-improved running game this fall.
No place were the Paladins hit harder by the transfer portal and graduation than at wide receiver, as Furman must replace two of its top pass-catchers for a second-straight season, with both Evan James and Ja'Keith Hamilton opting to transfer up to the FBS level during the off-season, with James, who was a record-setting freshman wideout for the Paladins this past season, moving on to Iowa, while Ja'Keith Hamilton opted to continue his career at East Carolina.
Heading into the 2025, Furman faced a similar dilemma at wideout, with the top three receivers lost, including leading wideout Colton Hinton, who moved on to Coastal Carolina via the transfer portal, while second-leading receiver Ben Ferguson was forced to into early retirement due to an injury.
The good news is that Furman has some capable returning pass-catchers, as it was arguably Furman's deepest position on offense last fall, with an impressive reservoir of talent. Devin Hester Jr. and Ethan Harris are two of the top returning wideouts, while the Paladins should see Tennessee Tech graduate transfer Luke Shields and UCF graduate transfer Dwartney Wortham able to contribute right away.
At tight end, Joshua Burrell spent two seasons at Furman splitting time with Jackson Pryor. However, Burrell decided to transfer back to the FBS level, moving on to Arkansas State, and Pryor, who missed most of last season after garnering SoCon All-Freshman honors in 2024, is back fully healthy and expected to once against be a primary target in the Paladin passing game as the penciled in starter at tight end heading into 2026.
Just one starter is back along the offensive line for the Paladins, with center Chris Luna set to anchor the unit this fall. There are two players returning with starting experience, however, as Eli Brasher is back, where he started the first eight games at left left tackle last season before suffering a season-ending injury. He will be the veteran-most leader along the offensive front this season for the Paladins.
Set to supplement what returns in terms of starting experience along the offensive front for Furman this fall will be guys like Stephen O'Dell at offensive guard, as well as Chase Gregorek at offensive tackle, as well as center Brady Smith, and guard Bryce Rainwater. Among the graduate transfers expected to immediately be plugged in for support as potential immediate starters along the offensive line include West Georgia transfer Alofaletauia Maluia and Memphis transfer Parker Peterson.
The special teams should be in good shape in the return game with both Caleb Ellison and Devin Hester Jr. back to help handle the punt and kick return duties, respectively, this fall. For the first time in four years, there are some questions about the kicking game entering the campaign, with All-SoCon place-kicker Ian Williams having moved on. Williams handled both the punting and kicking duties for the Paladins each of the past two seasons.
Gray Glitter appears to be ready to step into the role at punter this fall after having backed up Williams the past two seasons, while Nathaniel Chapman and redshirt freshman Bruce Brown figure to compete to replace Williams at place-kicker, with an open competition to ensue for the job in fall camp.
Furman's 2026 schedule is somewhat favorable, with the season opening on a Thursday night at home for the third time in five seasons, as the Paladins will welcome in Anderson University on Aug. 27 for the season opener before heading for SEC member and perennial college football playoff contender Tennessee on Sept. 5. Furman will open SoCon play on Sept. 12 at defending champion Mercer before facing Celebration Bowl winner South Carolina State at Paladin Stadium on Sept. 19. The Paladins will close out non-conference place on Sept. 26, heading to Richmond.
Despite a 10th team being added as a result of Tennessee Tech joining the league on July 2, 2026, every team in the SoCon will maintain an eight-game SoCon slate this season. With Furman and Tennessee Tech slated to face off against each other on Oct. 5 in Cookeville, Furman will see its game with fellow Volunteer State rival East Tennessee State disappear from its conference slate for at least the 2026 season.
Now its time to see if that patience has paid off and truly just how much progress this team has made over some tough times, which has seen the Paladins go 9-14 since those back-to-back 10-win campaigns in 2022 and '23. There is plenty of momentum for Furman football heading towards another potentially big season, which could include a 16th SoCon title and returning to the FCS Playoffs for a 21st time in program history this fall.
FURMAN FOOTBALL TRADITION
"Elite is the Standard"
SHARED OR OUTRIGHT SOCON FOOTBALL TITLES: (15) 1978, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’85, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’99, 2001, ’04, ’13, ’18, ‘23
FCS PLAYOFF APPEARANCES: (20) 1982; ’83, ’85, ’86, ‘88**, ’89, ’90, ’96, ’99, 2000, ’01, ’02, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’13, ’17, ’19, ’22, and ‘23
NCAA National Game Appearances: (3) 1985; ‘88** and 2001
SHARED OR OUTRIGHT SOCON FOOTBALL TITLES: (15) 1978, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’85, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’99, 2001, ’04, ’13, ’18, ‘23
FCS PLAYOFF APPEARANCES: (20) 1982; ’83, ’85, ’86, ‘88**, ’89, ’90, ’96, ’99, 2000, ’01, ’02, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’13, ’17, ’19, ’22, and ‘23
NCAA National Game Appearances: (3) 1985; ‘88** and 2001
FCS PLAYOFF RECORD: 22-20
88th Season of SoCon Football
**--1988 National Champion
Losing Seasons Since 1977
1979 5-6 overall, 4-3 SoCon (4th)
1994 3-8 overall, 2-6 SoCon (T-7th)
1998 5-6 overall, 3-5 SoCon (T-6th)
2010 5-6 overall, 3-5 SoCon (6th)
2012 3-8 overall, 2-6 SoCon (7th)
2014 3-9 overall, 2-5 SoCon (6th)
2015 4-7 overall, 2-5 SoCon (T-6th)
2016 3-8 overall, 3-5 SoCon (6th)
2020-21 3-4 overall, 3-4 SoCon (T-4th)
2024 3-8 overall, 2-5 SoCon (8th)
Traditionally, Furman is known for having one of the most well-respected staffs in all of FCS football, and nothing will change from that side of things in 2026.
Furman quarterback Tyler Huff never lost a SoCon game as a starter
When the Paladins get together for fall camp in late July, the quarterback job will be open for tryouts, and that will include several viable candidates. The player that got the most reps in the spring is Western New Mexico transfer Connor Ackerley, and if the season were to start today, he would undoubtedly be the starter for the Paladins in their season opener against Anderson University on Aug. 27.
Ackerley spent his first two seasons as the quarterback at Western New Mexico before opting to transfer to Furman. During the spring, Ackerley looked good under center running the Furman offense, and though not quite the run threat that Huff was, he showed the ability to run if he had to, as well as the ability to escape pressure. The more impressive aspects of his game were his accuracy, arm strength, as well as his poise under pressure.
The 6-1, 170-lb native of Tempe, AZ arrives at Furman with three years of eligibility remaining. In 2024 as a true freshman, he appeared in only four games and retained his redshirt year. In his rookie season at Western New Mexico, Ackerley completed 49-of-93 passes for 621 yards, with six touchdowns and four interceptions. In addition to his 2,999 passing yards, Ackerely added 89 rushing yards to go along with four TDs on the ground.
The 2025 season would see Ackerley start all 11 games for the Mustangs, as he would connect on 253-of-397 passes (63.7%) for 2,999 yards, with 30 TDs and 12 INTs. His top game of the season would come in a 69-55 loss to New Mexico Highlands, as he connected on 34-of-57 throws for a career-best 527 yards, with seven TDs and only one INT.
Last season, Joshua Burrell was the primary option at the position along with graduate transfer Luke Clyburn, as Jackson Pryor, who had a sensational freshman campaign for the Paladins in 2024, spent most of the 2025 campaign trying to get healthy from an ankle injury. Burrell has transferred out of the Furman program, as he will be part of the Arkansas State program this fall in what will be his final season of eligibility, while Clyburn, who spent one season at Furman after transferring in from NCAA Division II Newberry, has moved on to South Florida at the FBS level.
Pryor has recovered to full health, and he will be one of the primary targets in the passing game this fall. The Paladins have traditionally tried to create mismatches in the passing game against the opposition with taller, athletic tight ends that can get down field and be a threat over the top with enough speed to offer opposing defensive coordinators with a lot to consider when it comes to matchups, and Furman's Pryor fits that description perfectly.
The 6-5, 228-lb redshirt sophomore out of Boone, N.C., by way of Watauga High School was a preseason All-SoCon pick in 2025 and was a freshman All-SoCon selection back in '24. As a result of his ankle injury last season, Pryor logged action in just four games in '25, hauling in four passes for 30 yards and a touchdown. Pryor was able to haul in what was a 24-yard scoring strike from Trey Hedden in Furman's 28-24 road win at Campbell last fall.
In his rookie campaign of two years ago, Pryor logged time in eight games and provided the game-winning scoring catch in one of Furman's three victories a couple of seasons ago. He proved to be even more reliable in late-game situations, hauling in the game-winning six-yard touchdown in a 2024 win by the Paladins at The Citadel, which was just a week after bursting onto the scene after providing a clutch performance in his first collegiate game against William & Mary a week earlier.
All told, in his rookie season for the Paladins, Pryor hauled in 16 passes for 239 yards and four touchdowns. Following his injury last season, which ultimately ended his season prematurely, Pryor was awarded a medical redshirt. With Joshua Burrell and Luke Clyburn having moved on in the transfer portal, the job heading into the fall camp is likely Pryor's alone.
Set to also factor in as potentially an impact player at the tight end position this fall for the Paladins is Charlotte transfer Nick Segarra. The 6-5, 254-lb redshirt sophomore is one of 12 transfers expected to make a notable impact this fall for Clay Hendrix's Paladins. Segarra has excellent size and hands after matriculating in from Charlotte.
Segarra was never really able to scratch the surface as a tight end with the 49ers, however, could compete for the No. 2 spot on the Paladin depth chart this fall. Segarra played his prep football at Charlotte Catholic where he garnered a prestigious Shrine Bowl for Norh Carolina as a senior.
Another candidate to play a role at the tight end spot this fall for the Paladins will be true freshman Cameron James, as the Gainesville, GA., native played his prep football for the Red Elephants at Gainesville High School (5A).
The 6-2, 210-lb native of Gainesville hauled in 26 passes for 369 yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns, proving to be a significant downfield threat. With how Furman uses their tight ends in the passing game, the transition to being a reliable target should be seamless, and James should be in line as one of a handful of freshmen that could be in line to see some significant playing time, especially for the fact that he will likely also compete for time at long snapper.
James played his first three seasons as a prep at Clover High School and was a member of the 3-5A region championship team in 2023, and posted 44 catches for 423 yards and three touchdowns during his junior campaign in 2024.
Rounding out those players likely to factor in at tight end for the Paladins in 2026 is Ball State transfer Preston Ross, who logged action in seven games as a reserve in his first season with the Paladins in 2025. The 6-6, 244-lb redshirt junior battled injuries during his time with Ball State, but should be able to push for some time on the depth chart this fall for Furman.
Tight End Analysis
Furman's tradition at the tight end spot is notable, sporting as good of a unit over its championship-laden history as any program in the Southern Conference, and that will again be a strength this season, with Jackson Pryor an all-conference caliber tight end entering the season. He will again be a big part of the passing game this fall, while Segarra, James and Ross offer capable backups.
One of the areas the Paladins must see improvement this fall is along the offensive line, with youth and the struggle to make much progression in 2024 and '25 under the leadership of offensive line coach Matt McCutchan being ultimately a reason for Clay Hendrix to make a in leadership in the offensive line room, promoting Kyle Jolly to the newly opened position during the off-season.
Jolly has head coaching experience, having served as the head coach at Sickles High School in Florida in 2022 and '23, respectively, as well as turning in a two-year stint as a part of VMI's staff in 2019 and 2020-21. During his time with the Keydets, Jolly was the offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Jolly's time at VMI was highlighted by VMI's 6-2 mark in 2020-21, which helped the Keydets garner their first SoCon football crown since 1977.
Jolly's two seasons at VMI was followed by a one-year stint at Concord University where he served as the offensive line coach and helped the Mountain Lions post big improvements in scoring, rushing yards, and total offense. From there, Jolly then moved on to the high school ranks to become a head coach.
Jolly has also spent time as a graduate assistant on the offensive staff at Washington (2016-17) and at Old Dominion (2017-19) where he coached tight ends. Jolly also sports NFL experience as a player, having spent time in both the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers organizations, respectively.
He was a member of Steelers team that made an appearance in the 2011 Super Bowl XLV after capturing the AFC Championship. During his prep career, Jolly was a three-year starter for the University of North Carolina and started 38-straight games with the Tar Heels, culminating in the 2008 Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte against West Virginia.
His experience as a player, and his leadership in a variety of different roles at a nearly every level as a coach at will be huge assets his responsibility as the new offensive line coach for the Paladins this fall.
The challenge will be helping a Furman offensive line unit that has struggled to effectively get the Paladin ground game each of the past two seasons, and some of that has to do with youth, while the other part of that is having a quarterback that wasn't all that mobile. The Paladins surrendered a total of 58 combined sacks across the past couple of seasons, with that number coming down significantly last season to 23 quarterback takedowns surrendered after giving up 35 in 2024.
Those 58 sacks in the past two seasons came in 23 games, while the Paladins surrendered just 37 sacks in 26 games in 2022 and '23 combined. Furman returns just one starter from that unit of a year ago, while a total of three players return with starting experience.
Smith logged action in a reserve, role at center in games against Western Carolina and VMI, as well as in the regular-season finale at Clemson. He made his career debut against Western Carolina in what was a 52-7 road loss to the Catamounts, as he garnered time on nine plays late in the lopsided loss to the Catamounts. He also was able to log seven play participations in Furman's Senior Day, 32-14, home win over VMI. Smith finished out the season by participating on nine plays in Furman's 45-10 loss at Clemson.
Gagnon is a 6-3, 266-lb, product of Charlotte, N.C., by way of Charlotte Catholic. The redshirt sophomore has seen sparse spot duty in his first two seasons as a Paladin but could play a more prominent role this fall. The two-time SoCon All-Academic honoree was able to log his first-career action for the Paladins last season, making his Furman debut in the 32-14 win over VMI, as he logged action on two plays.
There are several other true freshmen that figure to compete to see some time in roles this fall,and are talented enough to provide depth right away if called upon to do so. One of those rookie newcomers that the coaching staff is particularly excited about is Wren High School product Cooper Jones.
The 6-4, 280-lb product of Williamston, S.C., signed with the Paladins late last October, and comes from a Golden Hurricanes program where he logged a total of 36 starts over three seasons, ans that included seeing him make an impressive 115 knockdown blocks in his career. Jones finished his prep career as a two-time all-district selection and was a multi-sport athlete during his time at Wren, also playing both basketball and baseball.
At least four more freshmen will be on the roster this fall, with all four likely to redshirt their first season in Greenville. Andrew Banaghan (Northwest Guilford HS/Stokesdale, N.C.), Tim Hyrbu (West Forsyth HS/Cumming, GA), Ayann Mirza (West Springfield HS/Springfield, VA), and Jaxon Corey (Calgary Christian HS/Trinity, FL) round out those competing for a spot in the pecking order along the offensive front this fall.
Offensive Line Analysis
Furman has long built its strong ground game tradition on excellent offensive line play, and that is true for any program that has a great history of running backs.
Defensive Overview
The Paladins enter the 2026 season coming off a campaign that saw major improvements within the front seven, which was of course spearheaded by Stoneking. Injury issues at linebacker prevented inside Ryan Earl linebacker from being able to build off what was a strong 2024 season, which saw him garner SoCon All-Freshman Team honors.
Earl's return highlights a solid unit at linebacker heading into the fall of 2026, with others like Raleigh Herbert and Tanner Schuck also being significant returnees to what should be a versatile unit. The emergence of a guy like promising young talent like Caleb Ellison could be another exciting development to watch for the unit this fall.
Furman's problems defensively, though, were most of the time once again a result of youth in the secondary, and in particular, cornerback, while the Paladins were vastly improved at both safety spots last season after experiencing some pretty significant struggles in 2024, it turned out to be one of the strongest units on the defensive side of the ball last season, thanks to the play of Taylen Blaylock, who was a game-changer for the Paladin defense in 2025.
If it wasn't Stoneking making the play for the Paladin defense in '25, it was usually Blaylock. His football instincts and his ability to make plays against the run, as well as read opposing offensive schemes were a big reason for Furman's overall improvement in the secondary last fall.
While Blaylock will no doubt be missed at safety, the emergence of young Caleb Easterling at safety in spare duty last season has Paladin fans excited about 2026 on the back end of the defensive unit.
Easterling, who was a redshirt freshman last fall, was already likely one of the top players on the defensive side of the football in 2025, but there was no chance the coaching staff was going to blow his redshirt by playing him in more games than the 25.0% true freshman players are allotted in order to maintain their redshirt.
Easterling will be part of a safeties room that will mix in some veteran leadership this fall, with both AK Burrell and Billy Lewis back at safety, helping solidify that unit once again this season, and that position in the secondary, at least, figures to be a strength for the Paladins.
In 2025, Furman finished the season ranking 100th in total defense (414.8 YPG), tied for 93rd in scoring defense (31.0 PPG), 86th in rushing defense (175.2 YPG) and 92nd in passing yards allowed per game (239.5 YPG).
One of the luxuries the Paladins will have on the defensive side of the ball in keeping the defensive coordinator in-house, with the promotion of Byers from co-Defensive coordinator to defensive coordinator is it will allow the Paladins to maintain their same 4-2-5 defensive scheme, which they have excelled in for the better part of a decade now.
Defensive Line
Defensive Line Analysis
Once again, the defensive line, led by Joshua Stoneking, should be one of the strongest positions on either side of the football for the Paladins. One thing is for certain in the upcoming season for the Paladins and that is Stoneking will need some vital help in the pass-rush up from in order to keep teams from just double-teaming him each game. I feel like there will be a few to emerge this season, which could see the Paladin defensive front look even stronger this season than it was last fall. Nose guard will be a key for the 'Dins this season, as it usually is. If Ty Kauserud can manage to stay healthy, he has all-conference potential. I expect Garrison Butler, Eli Lipscomb and Demetrius Baldwin should all play significant roles along the defensive line for Furman this fall as well.
Linebackers
Secondary
The Paladins' season wasn't anything spectacular for a program with such lofty standards, year-in and year-out, however, it was a step in the right direction after such a disappointing 2024 campaign, which saw the Paladins have one of their worst seasons of the modern era on the heels of one of their best, finishing just 3-8 overall and 2-6 in the SoCon two years ago.
However, three years after making to the brink of the final four of the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2005, finishing the '23 season with a 10-3 record, losing 35-28 in overtime to Montana, the Paladins appear to be ready to make an ascent back into the national conversation, and that is thanks in large part to what was a transitional 2025 campaign.
Furman kicked off its turnaround season at home against William & Mary on Aug. 30, and would start its season with a thrilling 23-21 win over the Tribe. It would be an important win for a program looking for a morale boost.
The Paladins trailed the game 21-20 with under seven minutes left in the game, however, quarterback Trey Hedden would complete three-straight passes, which covered 43 yards, setting up what would prove to be the game-winning points from place-kicker Ian Williams, who connected on his third field goal of the afternoon from 32 yards out to give the Paladins the lead for good with 2:43 remaining.
Making sure that lead would stand were defensive end Joshua Stoneking and Malachi Dobbins, who pressured Tribe quarterback Tyler Hughes on their final drive of the game, and Lindenwood transfer Taylen Blaylock dropped Tribe running back Rashad Raymond for a four-yard loss, and that forced the Tribe to leave the offense on the field for fourth down, but Blaylock came up big once again, as he broke up Hughes’ pass on fourth down, securing the win for the Paladins.
Furman’s offense could muster only 237 yards of total offense in the season opener, as the Paladins did most of their damage through the air, with Hedden completing 21-of-29 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. The lone scoring toss was a short pitch to true freshman wideout Evan James, who scored on a short four-yard reception, giving the Paladins a 14-7 lead.
The Paladins would end up getting four sacks from Joshua Stoneking and a 43-yard INT return for a score in the season-opening win over the Tribe.
The Paladins would get a big dose of humility in week two. A week after knocking off reigning SoCon champion Mercer, the Blue Hose would take down Furman, 39-38, overcoming a 28-7 second quarter deficit in the process.
It was a tale of two halves for Furman, which started the game strong and looked like a SoCon title contender, but by the end of the day, the Paladins squandered a big opportunity to move to 2-0 on the young season.The game would be decided in overtime, and it had everything, which included an hour-and-a-half delay in the second half due to lightning. Furman held a 28-14 lead at the break, which the Paladins increased to 31-14 early in the third quarter when Ian Williams connected on a 34-yard field goal with 9:43 remaining in the third quarter.
PC would get on the board on its second drive of the second half, as Hurst tossed a three-yard scoring strike to Zach Switzer with 5:10 remaining in the third quarter, cutting Furman’s lead to 10, at 31-21. The scoring pass from Hurst-to-Switzer concluded an impressive 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive for the Blue Hose.
With momentum in its favor and after the Blue Hose defense forced a Furman punt, Presbyterian would threaten to put more points on the board early in the fourth quarter, however, Jett Jackson’s 31-yard field goal attempt missed wide right.
Furman’s offense, however, continued to sputter and after another Paladin punt, the Blue Hose continued to gash the Paladin defense with big pass plays, and did so again on the first play of the ensuing series. Hurst found all-conference wideout Cincere Gill for a gain of 31 yards to get the Blue Hose to the Furman 24. However, after getting the ball down to the Furman 12, Hurst would be intercepted by Taylen Blaylock at the Furman five and he returned it 26 yards out to the Furman 31 with 10:38 remaining.
The Paladin offense once again could find no success on the ground or through the air, and was forced to punt the ball back to PC less than two minutes after Blaylock's INT had turned back the Blue Hose deep in the red zone.
After taking over the football at its own 45, Hurst completed passes of 14 and 12 yards to Switzer and Dominic Kirby to get the Blue Hose to the Furman 29. Then a 17-yard run by Hurst after he had been flushed from the pocket would get the Blue Hose to the Furman 12. On first down from the Furman 12, Antonio Wright rushed for four yards to the Paladin eight with 6:45 remaining and at 4:45 p.m. EST time in the afternoon. Time was called and the stadium was evacuated due to lightning.
Play would resume at approximately 6:37 p.m. EST and after a pair of incompletions from Hurst, PC would have to settle for a 25-yard field goal from Jett Jackson to cut Furman’s lead to seven, at 31-24.
Following a fumble on a handoff exchange between Hedden and freshman running back CJ Nettles on a 3rd-and-4 play, it was recovered by PC defensive end Carter Sydlowski at the Furman at the Furman 26 and returned 14 yards to the 12. On the first play following the turnover, Hurst found wideout BJ Atkins for a diving grab in the corner of the end zone to make it a 31-31 game with 4:38 remaining.
After Furman couldn't generate anything offensively and punted the ball back to the Blue Hose, PC opted to run off the remaining three minutes off the clock, which included a couple of deliberate delay of game penalties to force overtime.
Furman won the toss and took the ball first in overtime at the PC 25. Furman got a six-yard run from Smith on the second play of the series, and that was followed by a six-yard completion from Hedden-to-Devin Hester Jr. to get the Paladins to the PC 13. Smith then gained 12 up the middle on the next play and then plunged in from a yard out for the go-ahead score, making it a 38-31 Furman lead.
On PC's first play of their first offensive series in the extra session, Hurst hooked up with Kirby for a gain of 22 all the way to the Furman 3. A three-yard scoring strike from Hurst-to-Levicki tied made it a 38-37 game.
After the Blue Hose took a timeout to decide on their potential game-winning two-point conversion play, the staff opted to go right back to the sure-handed tight end Nathan Levicki, who didn't disappoint, as he hauled in a diving catch in the near corner of the fieldhouse end zone, delivering the win for PC.
The play was briefly reviewed to make sure he made a secure catch, but there's was little doubt that even if it hadn't have been upheld, PC's dominance in the second half and overtime made it deserving of the win.
Furman could muster just 96 yards of total offense and only two first downs in the latter 30 minutes and overtime period of football. That came on the heels of gaining 274 yards and racking up 17 first downs in the opening 30 minutes of football.
Furman would rebound the next time it took the field against Campbell, as the Paladins would go on the road and secure a 28-24 win over the Camels in the first-ever meeting between the programs, as the Paladins improved to 2-0 against the CAA on the young season.
The Paladins needed a big play from their defense to secure the road win, and in the end, it would be Buck Buchanan Award finalist Joshua Stoneking that would breakthrough and provide the most important play in the win, sacking Camels quarterback Camden Sixkiller on the all-important fourth down with the Camels threatening to win the game, having reached the Furman red zone with less than half-a-minute remaining.
The Camels would drive to the Furman 11 on their final possession, however, on 4th-and-5 with 21 seconds left, however, Joshua Stoneking bull-rushed wrapping up Sixkiller and in the process, notched the Paladins' third sack of the day, but more importantly preserving Furman's second win in their first three games to start the season.
Furman's defense would also set up what proved to be the go-ahead score just prior to the Camels' final drive. The Paladins had had trouble stopping Campbell's offense the entire second half until the final offensive drives of the game for the Camels.
Furman's defense finally forced a Campbell punt and then on Furman's next possession, it appeared the Paladins would have to punt it back to the Camels; however, a substitution infraction gave the Paladins an automatic first down to extend the drive.
The result would be Furman's offense making Campbell pay dearly for the miscue, as Hedden found his favorite target Evan James for a 30-yard TD pass with 5:10 left, giving the Paladins a 28-24 lead.
The Camels would drive to the Furman 11 on their final possession, however, on 4th-and-5 with 21 seconds left, however, Joshua Stoneking bull-rushed wrapping up Sixkiller and in the process, notched the Paladins' third sack of the day, but more importantly preserving Furman's second win in their first three games to start the season.
At 2-1, the Paladins were ready to open Southern Conference play at a place that has always been a tough venue for Furman to come away with a victory, as the Paladins began their 2025 SoCon journey in Homewood, AL., against the Samford Bulldogs.
Furman didn't play Samford in 2024, thanks to Hurricane Helene causing the lights to go out in Greenville for over 90% of the Upstate of South Carolina, and so the last time the two met was at Pete Hanna Stadium in a key mid-season SoCon tilt in 2023, which saw the Paladins sack Samford quarterbacks nine times and leave Homewood with a 27-21 win.
It was Furman's defensive performance that dimmed the lights for Samford's "Hatch Attack" offense in front of an excited and large Parents' Weekend home crowd, which entered with winning expectations inside the same facility as it had two years ago in the latest installment of the SoCon rivalry between the Paladins and Bulldogs.
On this particular Saturday, Joshua Stoneking and the Paladin defense would continue their strong play, as Furman came away with a dominating 31-13 win.
Much has changed in two years for both programs in terms of player turnover, but for much of Saturday's 31-13 win over Samford, however, it had a very similar feel for Furman's current roster of players and loyal fanbase, as the Paladins ended up with seven sacks in Saturday's lopsided verdict, which of course was just two shy of equaling the total of nine sacks by the 2023 Paladins. Furman now has a combined 16 quarterback takedowns in the past two meetings with Samford.
"We said pressure them and you have got to contain him [Samford QB Quincy Crittendon] and I thought we did a pretty good job of that and you know you have to get him on the ground and certainly the turnovers are big and one of the best things we did as a defense I thought was we didn't let them run it...I think their longest runs on the day were scrambles and you take a couple of plays out of that game and it's about as well as you could hope to play defensively," head coach Clay Hendrix said of his team's defensive performance in the 31-13 win at Samford.
With a win its Southern Conference opener, the Paladins improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in league play, while Samford remained winless, falling to 0-5 overall and 0-3 in Southern Conference play. The win also marked Furman’s 301st win in its Southern Conference history.
In addition to its seven sacks, Furman's defense also forced three Samford turnovers, with one of those contributing directly to a score on a 47-yard pick-six by linebacker Raleigh Herbert just before the half, which helped Furman establish momentum for the remainder of the afternoon en route to the road win.
Next up for Furman would be an East Tennessee State team that would visit Greenville as talented as any in the Southern Conference, and it was a team that many pundits considered as a dark horse to potentially win the 2025 SoCon title.
With the most power five transfers in the SoCon, including a pair of those under center, the Paladins would have their hands full in front of a rowdy home crowd of 10,527 fans on-hand for Family Weekend at Paladin Stadium.
Donning all Purple uniforms, the Paladins overcame a 22-7 deificit early in the second half, overwhelming the Bucs for 24 unanswered points to capture a thrilling 31-22 win.
It would end up being a big day for Furman quarterback Trey Hedden and the Furman offense, which would end up outgaining the Bucs 500-362 in total offense, improving to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in league action.
Hedden finished his afternoon by connecting on 36-of-49 for 358 yards, two touchdowns and an INT. Hedden also had a 1-yard scoring plunge to for Furman's first score of the day.
In the absence of leading receiver and freshman sensation Evan James, both Hamilton and Harris hauled in a combined 22 passes for 222 yards and two TDs. Hamilton had a career day, hauling in 11 passes for 141 yards and two scores, while Harris hauled in 11 passes for 81 yards in the game.
Furman's ground attack was powered by a heavy dose of Gavin Hall, as he became the first Paladin to rush for 100 yards in a game this season, finishing the contest with 101 yards on 23 carries.
Cade McNamara and Jacolby Criswell combined the duties under center for ETSU. McNamara started the game and played a quarter, and finishing the day connecting on 2-of-7 passes for 11 yards, while Criswell saw action over the most of the final three quarters, completed 7-for-14 passes for 100 yards with an INT. Criswell was most effective rushing the football, as he finished the contest with 73 yards and a score on 15 attempts. All told, both FBS power four transfers combined to go 9-of-22 passing for 111 yards and no TDs with an INT.
The ground attack for the Bucs was led by Houston, who returned to the backfield following a three-game absence, finishing the game with 150 yards on 22 carries, with half of his rushing yards coming on the first play of the second half.
The Bucs did out-gain the Paladins on the ground (275-142), however, in addition to holding a 148-yard advantage in total yards, the Paladins held advantages in passing 32yards (358-100), total snaps (82-76), and time of possession (35:32-24:28).
Furman's 500 yards of total offense in the win marked the first time the Paladins have gained over 500 or more yards in a game since knocking off Stetson, 48-7, last season, gaining 510 yards of total offense in that particular contest.
The last Southern Conference foe, which saw the Paladins gain 500 or more yards against a SoCon foe against was on Oct. 21, 2023, as the Paladins knocked off No. 8 Western Carolina, as Furman would end up with 508 yards in the 29-17 win over the Catamounts on that particular occasion.
Furman's win marked its 15th in 17 games played at Paladin Stadium, and it marks the eighth in 10 meetings since the Bucs rejoined the SoCon back in 2016. The Paladins have now won 31 of 40 all-time meetings between the two foes.
Certainly not to be overlooked Saturday was another strong effort from Furman's defense, and in particular, the pass rush, which once again was a major influencer on the outcome.
The Paladin defense sacked ETSU quarterbacks four times on the day, with the nation's leader in sacks, Joshua Stoneking, coming up with three of them as a part of a seven-tackle effort.
Sophomore defensive back Billy Lewis led Furman's defense with nine tackles and Caldwell Bussey matched Stoneking's seven stops along the defensive front and contributed the other sack the Paladins recorded in the win.
Defensively, Mercer sacked Hedden four times and allowed Furman just eight first downs the entire afternoon, holding the Paladins to just 2.9 yards-per-rush. Linebackers Drew Clare and Julian Fox led the Bears with five tackles apiece, with Fox adding a sack and a tackle-for-loss.
Braden Atkinson picked up the STATS Perform Jerry Rice Award for his performance during the regular-season, which saw him finish out the season completing 268-of-408 passes for 3,596 yards, with 34 TDs and 11 INTs.
The "Stonewall Defense" as the Spiders came to be known were at that time led by Huesman, who was the Spiders' defensive coordinator and in his second season leading a stout unit. Following Richmond's first and only national title in 2008, Huesman left to become the head coach at Chattanooga, where he would spend the next eight seasons before arriving to become Richmond's head coach in 2017.
Coming into that '05 matchup that was played at the old City Stadium and former NASCAR Track, the Spiders had won eight in a row and were the Atlantic 10 co-Champions (now the Coastal Athletic Association or CAA).
However, in Furman and its talented quarterback Ingle Martin, the Spiders had met their match, as the Paladins went on to get a four-point win, as Martin passed for 249 yards and a touchdown, while Jerome Felton finished with 92 rushing yards and a pair of scores in the narrow win. The '05 Paladins, which established themselves as the top offensive in program history, would finish out the night holding a 443-348 edge in total offense.
Richmond, which is coming off a 7-5 record overall and a 3-4 mark in their new conference--the Patriot League--heads into the 2026 season expected to be one of the team's to compete for the Patriot League title along with Lehigh and bitter rival William & Mary. That 7-5 season last fall.
When the Paladins and Spiders square off on Sept. 26,. it will mark the first meeting between the two programs since that playoff clash back in 2005. The Paladins and Spiders will be meeting on the gridiron for the 26th time in series history, with the Spiders holding the 15-10 all-time series edge.
Huesman will have the luxury of having a more experienced team returning for the upcoming season, which sees the return of 22 players that played at least played a role in the Spiders' first season in their new conference.
One thing that is always a staple of Russ Huesman-coached teams is their proficiency on the defensive side of the football, and that should again be the case this fall, as the Spiders are coming off a campaign, which saw them rank second in the Patriot League in both scoring defense and total defense, and welcome back EDGE Camden Byrd, who posted 11.5 tackles-for-loss and eight sacks last season and will be on the short list of candidates to be in the running for the Buck Buchanan Award this fall.
Also returning to the fold is All-Patriot League linebacker Carter Glassmeyer and safety Tayshaun Burney, as Richmond sports talents at all three levels on the defensive side of the ball. Burney led the team with 10 pass breakups last season. Jordan Allen and Lee Bruner IV are also back at safety, and were excellent against the run last season, as Richmond was one of the most physical units in the Patriot League last fall.
While the defense should be good, the offense is a little more of a question mark, but there are some key pieces returning that fans should be aware of. If there weren't so many question marks at quarterback, perhaps the Spiders would be the prohibitive favorite in their second year as a league member. Ashten Snelsire is back at quarterback after throwing for 848 yards, with eight touchdowns and five INTs a year ago. Kickoff between the Paladins and Spiders is set for 2 p.m. EST on Sept. 26 at UR Stadium.
The last meeting between the two actually came in the 2023 season opener, as Furman claimed what was a 45-10 win in what was just the fourth meeting in the history of the series, which got its start way back in 1975. The Paladins hold a 3-1 all-time series edge against the Golden Eagles, with Tennessee Tech's lone win in the series coming in that first-ever meeting between the two schools, as Tennessee Tech claimed a 17-5 decision in what was the season opener for the 'Dins in '75.
Tennessee Tech figures to be one of the favorites to claim the Southern Conference title this fall, as Bobby Wilder heads into his third season at the helm of the Tennessee Tech program after having led the Golden Eagles to their best season in program history in 2025, with the Golden Eagles finishing 11-2 overall and a perfect 8-0 in their final season of membership of the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association.
Despite being one of the favorites, the Golden Eagles will have to reload on both sides of the football, and it all starts under center, with a new signal-caller slated to go under center this fall for the Golden Eagles.
Replacing the Kekoa Visperas under center will be the biggest key on the offensive side of the football, but overall there is a positive vibe about the momentum established with the 11-win campaign of a year ago.
The Golden Eagles were in fact hit pretty hard by graduation and the transfer portal, but coach Wilder and staff hit the transfer portal hard, bringing a total of 46 newcomers, which includes a whopping 41 transfers, including a pair of quarterbacks, in Zolten Osborne (Charleston Southern) and Jax Leatherwood (SEMO).
The offense was decimated by both graduation and the transfer portal, with Nason Simmons the lone returnee of the five offensive linemen, while the skill positions were also hit hard by the portal, with not much in the way of continuity returning from last season. The good news is the Golden Eagles are solid at the skill spots, where leading rusher Quintell Quinn (101 rush att, 698 rush yds, 9 TDs, 6.1 YPC in 2025) and Maury Sullivan (50 catches, 631 yds, 4 TDs in 2025) are both back to give either Leatherwood or Osborne some great options in the passing attack.
Tennessee Tech ranked ninth in the nation in total defense last season, surrendering just 296.7 YPG in 2025. One of the holdovers from that outstanding defensive unit from last season are defensive backs Omar Philyaw and Leon Thomas, while Idris King, Xavier Randolph and Kanstin Brooks represent three of four starters from the defensive line.
Linebacker is the one position on the defensive side of the football that remains a bit of a concern heading into the 2026 season, but the Golden Eagles should again be stout on the defensive side of the ball.
2026 Schedule Analysis
This is a slate that is challenging, but manageable for Furman. Furman has looked to avoid NCAA Division II programs more often than not under the leadership of head coach Clay Hendrix, which is simply due mostly to it was once hard to overcome when it came to hacving a win that counted towards FCS at-large playoff selection, as it took away an opportunity to garner a win that counted towards the six needed to be eligible for FCS Playoff consideration.
However, in a 12-game schedule, Furman along with other schools in the league have the luxury of playing an NCAA Division II program from time-to-time, and when the Paladins open the '26 season on Thursday, Aug. 27, against Anderson, it will mark the first-ever meeting between the two, as well as offer the opportunity for one of Furman's own legendary pillars of its program--former Hall-of-Fame quarterback and SoCon Coach of the Year Bobby Lamb (Furman, '86) a chance to return to Paladin Stadium on the opening Thursday night of the season.
Anderson is a start-up program that will be in its third season of operation this fall under Lamb, and it's a Trojans team that should challenge the Paladins in the opener. Furman will do the best it can to get through its trip to Knoxville and SEC power Tennessee before opening SoCon play on the road at two-time defending champion Mercer on Sept. 12.
To me, this is when Furman's '26 season really begins. The game at Five Star Stadium against the two-time defending league champs will most likely serve as a momentum swing game. The game will either prove a stepping stone to a big season, or a stumbling block out of the gate. Furman will hope the former rather than the latter, as in 14 of its 15 SoCon title winning seasons, the Paladins have opened the campaign with a win in league play, with the only one in which they did not being 2018, as Furman opened with a 29-27 loss at East Tennessee State in a game it held a 27-6 third quarter lead. The Paladins, ironically, would clinch a share of the league title on the final day of the regular-season, with a 35-30 win at Mercer.
Overall, this schedule sets up nicely, with home games in league against Chattanooga, WCU, Wofford and Samford, while the Paladins will be on the road at newly christened league member Tennessee Tech (Oct. 10), as well as having games at Mercer (Sept. 12), at The Citadel (Nov. 7), and at VMI (Nov. 21), while avoiding ETSU all together on the 2026 league slate.
Non-conference games at Richmond (first meeting since '05) and a home game against Celebration Bowl champion South Carolina State (Sept. 19) are two intriguing non-conference games. Overall, this is a schedule that is tough, however, manageable, as the Paladins expect to challenge for a 16th SoCon title this fall. Below is a predicted win-loss schedule and final projected record for the 2026 season.
2026 Furman Schedule Projection and Final Record
Aug. 27 vs. Anderson W, 28-10
Sept. 5, at Tennessee L, 56-14
Sept. 12 at Mercer* W, 21-16
Sept. 19 vs. South Carolina State W, 21-10
Sept. 26 at Richmond L, 17-14
Oct. 3 vs. Wofford* W, 24-14
Oct. 10 at Tennessee Tech* L, 17-16
Oct. 24 vs. Samford* W, 31-17
Oct. 31 vs. Western Carolina W, 35-31
Nov. 7 at The Citadel* L, 24-21
Nov. 14 vs. Chattanooga* W, 28-21
Nov. 21 at VMI* W, 33-12
Final Record: 8-4 overall/6-2 SoCon T-2nd
**--1988 National Champion
PALMETTO STATE TRADITION
Furman’s football program is the second-winningest program in the Palmetto State, and along with Clemson, is responsible for winning the lone national title of the current Southern Conference membership, when the Paladins won the 1988 national title to become the first private school to ever win a national title.
The Paladins won at home vs. Delaware (21-7), at Marshall (W, 13-9) and vs. Idaho (W, 38-7) to reach its second national title game in four seasons, and it would be a familiar foe on the other side of the football awaiting them. Furman traveled all the way to Pocatello, Idaho to face border state and future SoCon rival Georgia Southern for the second meeting in series history.
Behind legendary quarterback Tracy Ham, the Eagles were able to rebound from a 28-6 deficit against a Furman team quarterbacked by former legend Bobby Lamb, posting one of the more remarkable come-from-behind wins in championship history, as Frankie Johnson hauled in a 13-yard pass from Ham, allowing the Eagles to pick up a memorable, 44-42, title win, as it would be the first of what would become six national titles over a 15-year span for the Georgia Southern football program.
The Paladins would get their revenge for that loss three years later at Idaho State’s Holt Arena in a game that was nothing like the initial meeting between the two three years earlier, as the Paladins would win a 17-12 defensive struggle against Erk Russell’s Eagles, who were a little less potent through the air, but maybe more potent on the ground, led by quarterback Raymond Gross.
Jeff Blankenship’s interception of a Gross pass with 17 seconds remaining, with the Eagles driving late inside Furman territory sealed Furman’s greatest triumph as an athletics program. Interestingly, the Paladins were picked fourth in the Southern Conference in the 1988 preseason media and coaches poll, and would even lose the regular-season meeting with Marshall in Huntington, dropping what was a 24-10 game.
The Paladins exacted their revenge at Fairfield Stadium in the playoff, limiting Marshall’s dynamic passing attack, which was led by quarterback John Gregory and wideout Sean Doctor.
However, Furman held the Herd in-check all day on the defensive side of the ball, and a 79-yard scoring drive late in the game, which was engineered beautifully by quarterback Frankie DeBusk and capped the drive with a 1-yard scoring plunge from Dwight Sterling, and after the two-point conversion failed, the Paladins held a four-point, 13-9, lead with 2:09 remaining. Furman’s defense would make the lead hold up, and the Paladins would be returning to Greenville to take on Big Sky powerhouse in the semifinals.
When the Paladins faced the Vandals in front of 11,645 fans at Paladin Stadium on a sunny, cold early December Saturday afternoon, they did so knowing Idaho wasn’t at full strength, as Hall-of-Fame quarterback and future NFL veteran John Friesz had suffered a severe ankle sprain in Idaho’s 38-30 quarterfinal win over Northwestern State, and that would keep him out against the Paladins. Without him and facing a Furman defense that was a dominant force, the Vandals would be no match for the Paladins in what would turn out to be a 38-7 blowout win for the Paladins.
Since that national title win, the Paladins have had some successful clusters, with it being rare to see the Paladins dip below .500 overall in regular-season. Even in seasons which don't see the Paladins challenge for a SoCon title or postseason appearance, the Paladins more often than not finish at or above .500.
In 39 of the past 48 football seasons, Furman has posted at least a .500 finish to a season, and in 37 of those, Furman has finished above .500 to end a season. Listed below are the nine seasons in which the Paladins have finished below .500 in a campaign, dating back to 1977.
The Paladins won at home vs. Delaware (21-7), at Marshall (W, 13-9) and vs. Idaho (W, 38-7) to reach its second national title game in four seasons, and it would be a familiar foe on the other side of the football awaiting them. Furman traveled all the way to Pocatello, Idaho to face border state and future SoCon rival Georgia Southern for the second meeting in series history.
Behind legendary quarterback Tracy Ham, the Eagles were able to rebound from a 28-6 deficit against a Furman team quarterbacked by former legend Bobby Lamb, posting one of the more remarkable come-from-behind wins in championship history, as Frankie Johnson hauled in a 13-yard pass from Ham, allowing the Eagles to pick up a memorable, 44-42, title win, as it would be the first of what would become six national titles over a 15-year span for the Georgia Southern football program.
The Paladins would get their revenge for that loss three years later at Idaho State’s Holt Arena in a game that was nothing like the initial meeting between the two three years earlier, as the Paladins would win a 17-12 defensive struggle against Erk Russell’s Eagles, who were a little less potent through the air, but maybe more potent on the ground, led by quarterback Raymond Gross.
Jeff Blankenship’s interception of a Gross pass with 17 seconds remaining, with the Eagles driving late inside Furman territory sealed Furman’s greatest triumph as an athletics program. Interestingly, the Paladins were picked fourth in the Southern Conference in the 1988 preseason media and coaches poll, and would even lose the regular-season meeting with Marshall in Huntington, dropping what was a 24-10 game.
The Paladins exacted their revenge at Fairfield Stadium in the playoff, limiting Marshall’s dynamic passing attack, which was led by quarterback John Gregory and wideout Sean Doctor.
However, Furman held the Herd in-check all day on the defensive side of the ball, and a 79-yard scoring drive late in the game, which was engineered beautifully by quarterback Frankie DeBusk and capped the drive with a 1-yard scoring plunge from Dwight Sterling, and after the two-point conversion failed, the Paladins held a four-point, 13-9, lead with 2:09 remaining. Furman’s defense would make the lead hold up, and the Paladins would be returning to Greenville to take on Big Sky powerhouse in the semifinals.
When the Paladins faced the Vandals in front of 11,645 fans at Paladin Stadium on a sunny, cold early December Saturday afternoon, they did so knowing Idaho wasn’t at full strength, as Hall-of-Fame quarterback and future NFL veteran John Friesz had suffered a severe ankle sprain in Idaho’s 38-30 quarterfinal win over Northwestern State, and that would keep him out against the Paladins. Without him and facing a Furman defense that was a dominant force, the Vandals would be no match for the Paladins in what would turn out to be a 38-7 blowout win for the Paladins.
Since that national title win, the Paladins have had some successful clusters, with it being rare to see the Paladins dip below .500 overall in regular-season. Even in seasons which don't see the Paladins challenge for a SoCon title or postseason appearance, the Paladins more often than not finish at or above .500.
In 39 of the past 48 football seasons, Furman has posted at least a .500 finish to a season, and in 37 of those, Furman has finished above .500 to end a season. Listed below are the nine seasons in which the Paladins have finished below .500 in a campaign, dating back to 1977.
Losing Seasons Since 1977
1979 5-6 overall, 4-3 SoCon (4th)
1994 3-8 overall, 2-6 SoCon (T-7th)
1998 5-6 overall, 3-5 SoCon (T-6th)
2010 5-6 overall, 3-5 SoCon (6th)
2012 3-8 overall, 2-6 SoCon (7th)
2014 3-9 overall, 2-5 SoCon (6th)
2015 4-7 overall, 2-5 SoCon (T-6th)
2016 3-8 overall, 3-5 SoCon (6th)
2020-21 3-4 overall, 3-4 SoCon (T-4th)
2024 3-8 overall, 2-5 SoCon (8th)
The Furman football program has won more games (651) and more conference titles (15) than any other football program. The Paladins will be entering their 121st season on the gridiron this fall and have the second-most FBS wins among SoCon programs with six, trailing only bitter rival The Citadel, which has won a league-high eight games against FBS foes. The Bulldogs and Paladins share the distinction of being the two oldest members of the gridiron membership, as both enter their 88th season of competition inside the Southern Conference this fall.
Furman has wins over North Carolina State (2), Georgia Tech (1), North Carolina (1), South Carolina (1) and Central Florida (1) in its history as an FCS member. Furman ranks in the top five (No. 4 behind Montana 28, Eastern Kentucky 23, and Northern Iowa 22) in FCS history in all-time playoff appearances, having made 20 appearances in the postseason. Furman has a 22-20 ledger all-time in the postseason.
Furman also has one Walter Payton Award winner, in former running back Louis Ivory, who claimed the 2000 Walter Payton Award winner after becoming the first running back to rush for over 2,000 in the regular-season in SoCon history.
Furman, which heads into its 88th season as a SoCon member, has won more games than any other member in league history, and its 24-21 win at East Tennessee State late in the 2024 season marked the program’s 300th SoCon win, as the Paladins improved to 300-229-11 all-time in league play with that win with that win. Now a year removed from that milestone result, the Paladins enter the 2026 campaign with an all-time league mark to 304-234-11 heading into the 2026 campaign following what was a 4-4 finish to the league season this past fall.
Furman will add one more conference foe this season, while taking a year off from playing another. With Tennessee Tech entering the SoCon, the league will likely be given a notable overall boost with the OVC/Big South champions becoming an official member of the SoCon on July 2. The Golden Eagles are coming off an OVC/Big South title-winning campaign, winning 11 games last fall and advancing to the FCS Playoffs.
The Paladins faced the Golden Eagles in both the 2021 and '23 seasons, with Furman blanking Tennessee Tech on the road during the 2022 season, 26-0, at Tucker Stadium in Cookeville.
The Paladins will also be taking part in their 121st season as a program, and it is the oldest sport on the Furman campus, with its first-ever football game way back in 1889 against Wofford.
2026 Particulars
TEAM No. 118
Furman has wins over North Carolina State (2), Georgia Tech (1), North Carolina (1), South Carolina (1) and Central Florida (1) in its history as an FCS member. Furman ranks in the top five (No. 4 behind Montana 28, Eastern Kentucky 23, and Northern Iowa 22) in FCS history in all-time playoff appearances, having made 20 appearances in the postseason. Furman has a 22-20 ledger all-time in the postseason.
Furman also has one Walter Payton Award winner, in former running back Louis Ivory, who claimed the 2000 Walter Payton Award winner after becoming the first running back to rush for over 2,000 in the regular-season in SoCon history.
Furman, which heads into its 88th season as a SoCon member, has won more games than any other member in league history, and its 24-21 win at East Tennessee State late in the 2024 season marked the program’s 300th SoCon win, as the Paladins improved to 300-229-11 all-time in league play with that win with that win. Now a year removed from that milestone result, the Paladins enter the 2026 campaign with an all-time league mark to 304-234-11 heading into the 2026 campaign following what was a 4-4 finish to the league season this past fall.
Furman will add one more conference foe this season, while taking a year off from playing another. With Tennessee Tech entering the SoCon, the league will likely be given a notable overall boost with the OVC/Big South champions becoming an official member of the SoCon on July 2. The Golden Eagles are coming off an OVC/Big South title-winning campaign, winning 11 games last fall and advancing to the FCS Playoffs.
The Paladins faced the Golden Eagles in both the 2021 and '23 seasons, with Furman blanking Tennessee Tech on the road during the 2022 season, 26-0, at Tucker Stadium in Cookeville.
The Paladins will also be taking part in their 121st season as a program, and it is the oldest sport on the Furman campus, with its first-ever football game way back in 1889 against Wofford.
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| Furman sophomore running back CJ Nettles |
2026 Particulars
TEAM No. 118
ALL-TIME RECORD: 651-505-38
HEAD COACH: Clay Hendrix (60-43/10th year at Furman)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Justin Roper
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Chad Byers
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Pro-Spread
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: Multiple
COACHES PRESEASON PROJECTION: 6th in SoCon/FCS Nation Projected Finish T-2nd
KEY OFFENSIVE RETURNEES: RB CJ Nettles ; OL Chris Luna ; WR Devin Hester Jr.; TE Jackson Pryor; RB Ben Croasdale ; OL Eli Brasher; WR Landyn James; WR Ethan Harris; RB Ben Croasdale; OL Bryce Rainwater; OL Chase Gregorek; OL Eli Brasher; WR John Holbrook; OL Brady Smith; QB Neuhel Garcia; WR Gram Smithson; OL Steven O'Dell; OL Jackson Gagnon; OL Chase Polivchak
KEY OFFENSIVE DEPARTURES: LG Luke Petit (transferred to Troy); QB Trey Hedden (transferred to New Mexico State); WR Evan James (transferred to Iowa); WR Ja'Keith Hamilton (transferred to East Carolina); OL Jaydon Collins (out of eligibility); WR Kerry King (out of eligibility); OL Ryan Lamb (out of eligibility); TE Joshua Burrell (transferred to Arkansas State); RB Jay'Quan Smith (Retired from football)
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Pro-Spread
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: Multiple
COACHES PRESEASON PROJECTION: 6th in SoCon/FCS Nation Projected Finish T-2nd
KEY OFFENSIVE RETURNEES: RB CJ Nettles ; OL Chris Luna ; WR Devin Hester Jr.; TE Jackson Pryor; RB Ben Croasdale ; OL Eli Brasher; WR Landyn James; WR Ethan Harris; RB Ben Croasdale; OL Bryce Rainwater; OL Chase Gregorek; OL Eli Brasher; WR John Holbrook; OL Brady Smith; QB Neuhel Garcia; WR Gram Smithson; OL Steven O'Dell; OL Jackson Gagnon; OL Chase Polivchak
KEY OFFENSIVE DEPARTURES: LG Luke Petit (transferred to Troy); QB Trey Hedden (transferred to New Mexico State); WR Evan James (transferred to Iowa); WR Ja'Keith Hamilton (transferred to East Carolina); OL Jaydon Collins (out of eligibility); WR Kerry King (out of eligibility); OL Ryan Lamb (out of eligibility); TE Joshua Burrell (transferred to Arkansas State); RB Jay'Quan Smith (Retired from football)
KEY RETURNEES DEFENSE: DL Joshua Stoneking; DL Demetrius Baldwin; LB Ryan Earl; DL Caldwell Bussey; DB Daco Coleman; S Caleb Easterling; S AK Burrell; LB Raleigh Herbert; DL Ty Kauserud; DL Marc Hernandez; DL Bruce Knauber; DL Garrison Butler; DB Jordan Miller; LB Caleb Ellison; DL/BAN Tanner Schuck; DB Billy Lewis; DB Max Eubanks; DL Trevor Short; DB Javaris Jones; DB Connor Adams; DL Malaki Dobbins
KEY LOSSES DEFENSE: DB Taylon Blaylock (out of eligibility); DB Keon Jones (out of eligibility); LB Luke McLaughlin (out of eligibility); DB Caleb Williams (transferred to South Carolina State)
KEY SPECIAL TEAMS RETURNEES: HLD Gray Gitter
KEY SPECIAL TEAMS DEPARTURES: P/PK/KO Ian Williams; LS Riley Smith
KEY TRANSFER PORTAL ADDITIONS: QB Jake Garcia (Michigan/ECU/Missouri/Miami), QB Connor Ackerley (Western New Mexico); WR Daniel Haughton (Dartmouth); WR Luke Shields (Tennessee Tech); DL Elihu Lipscomb (Wingate); DB Joshua Tarver (Yale); RB CJ Stokes (Charlotte/Michigan); OL Preston Patterson (Memphis); WR Dwartney Wortham (Central Florida); DB Aaron Davis (Bucknell); OL Aloffaletauia Maluia (West Georgia)
HOME STADIUM: Paladin Stadium (13,296)
HOME STADIUM: Paladin Stadium (13,296)
ALL-TIME RECORD AT PALADIN STADIUM: 194-70/45 Seasons
BEST QUOTE FROM MEDIA DAY:
"When you look at us this season I think we have significantly bettered ourselves in the areas that we have really needed to the past couple of seasons, which is along the offensive line...I think Parker Peterson is gonna help us a lot...I like what we have done especially at corner and safety in what we've added there to an already talented group returning....I think Caleb Easterling is gonna have a big year for us at corner and really showed flashes of that last season...Jordan Miller and Daco Coleman are obviously a year older and have worked hard in the off-season to be a couple of our veteran leaders there and on defense as a whole...And then at quarterback we brought in really three guys that I think can really help us and we have a solid guy returning that will also provide some competition at the quarterback spot. I really like what Jake Garcia has done...He's a little like Tyler [Huff] was in the way he's come in and just worked...Hasn't said a lot, but sort of just worked and guys I think saw that he was a guy that was serious about this and about his final year and about trying to lead this team to try and go win a conference championship...He won over a lot of guys by just showing up and working and I think that's really important if you're going to have any kind of success going into any season."
--Furman head coach Clay Hendrix--
Program Developmental Philosophy
It's a new era for both college football and Furman football, and that means that adaptation at the FCS level is a primary means to survival in this 'Brave New World'.
Adaptation for a program like Furman doesn't look the same as it does at peer schools like East Tennessee State or Western Carolina, but for head coach Clay Hendrix (60-41/10th yr), he's developed his own system and way of making sure the Paladins stay relevant in this new world of college football, which is dominated by NIL opportunities at the FBS level.
The challenge is retaining to develop within the framework that demands you took in almost a new 45-50 players each off-season in order to provide adequate replacements for the that outgoing talent that you lose and still have enough left over to build some depth.
But Hendrix and his staff also have to do that by balancing the school's academic profile at the same time, which over the years, has been more stringent than lenient when it comes to working with potential the academic side of a student's program, which is unlike other programs at this level with a similar academic profile.
With that said, Hendrix and staff have battled such challenges long before NIL or the transfer portal, so that side of finding guys that fit the Furman profile isn't anything, but it's just more the issue of when you have to find those guys and how many of those guys you need as adequate replacements.
Among its Southern Conference peers, however, Furman has done just about as well as anyone at retaining talent, and coming off a 6-6 season in 2025, Hendrix knew the potential ahead for the program to returning to being a contender nationally, as Furman has been one of the youngest teams in FCS football each of the past two seasons after making that run to the FCS quarterfinals in 2023, where the Paladins came up just short against Montana (L, 35-28 OT), and of becoming the first SoCon team to make it to the FCS Semifinals since 2011 and first since 2005 if counting the current membership.
In 2022 and '23, Furman returned to national prominence on the gridiron, which is something the program hadn't enjoyed for the better part of two decades, or really since the first six years of the new millennium, with Furman's last deep run into the FCS postseason coming in 2005, when it lost in the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs on the road at Appalachian State (L, 29-23).
The Paladins were able to figure a thing or two out during COVID-19, and it was based on the principles that Hendrix and Furman had always been about, which is a focus on development and teams maturing together. It's harder now because even if you retain a lot of talent, you still inevitably lose some, and for Furman, which has been especially young, there is a learning curve and a new way of doing things.
The past two seasons Furman has put in the work and put up with a lot of growing pains as a result of a 2023 class, which was built on maturity and the extra COVID year to make a run at a national title.
The Paladins weren't all that far away in '23, finishing the SoCon season in dominant fashion, claiming the program's first outright SoCon title since 1989, and now two years on, there's a buzz around the program again.
With the departure of 46 seniors, humility and harsh reality were served all at once against Lane Kiffin's Ole Miss Rebels in the '24 season opener, which saw the Paladins suffer one of their worst losses in program history, with a 76-0 setback to the FBS national title contender.
Youthful inexperience wasn't the only thing the program was dealing with, as young defensive lineman Bryce Stanfield passed suddenly due to a medical emergency in February of '24, as it was just a couple days before spring practice in 2024. That left a huge emotional toll, and the grief experienced for such a tight-knit program and community like Furman has, was not easy to heal from.
The '24 opener was a shell-shocking loss, and while those kinds of defeats are more common now even for good FCS teams when facing SEC powerhouses, it was still a jarring loss for a program that in previous decades, had been competitive more often than not in games against the big boys. In fact, just two years earlier, Furman had outgained Clemson (387-378) in a 35-12 loss to the Tigers.
The Paladins went on to experiencing big growing pains, and the Ole Miss loss combined with all of the continued healing from Stanfield's sudden death, an uncanny amoung of injuries on defense, and the damage the campus incurred from Hurricane Helene, which forced the cancellation of Furman's league game against Samford in late September, snowballed into a season that saw the Paladins finish just 3-8 overall and 2-5 in league play.
The Paladins would eventually show the kind of character and development the program had become known for, as the Paladins could have easily just mailed in the season after back-to-back home losses to Chattanooga (L, 41-10) and Western Carolina (L, 52-20) by a combined score of 93-20.
Furman's 21-17 loss at VMI saw Furman reach a low point, and after a 19-13 home loss to Wofford accounted for a fourth-straight league defeat, Furman's game against nationally-ranked East Tennessee State, which had postseason aspirations if it could win its remaining two games against Furman and VMI, it would have been easy to conclude that another double-digit loss was there right on the horizon. However, with an inspired performance on both sides of the football, the Paladins found a way to post what was a 24-21 win over East Tennessee State.
For the players, the joy felt for the win over the nationally-ranked Bucs was very similar to Furman's 17-14 win at Chattanooga to clinch a share of the regular-season title almost exactly a year earlier.
Furman's 2025 campaign was a step in the right direction, with thrilling non-conference wins over William & Mary and a triumph at Campbell, as the Paladins held the Camels out of the end zone deep in its own red zone late in the game, marked a couple of gritty performances for Hendrix's team.
The non-conference slate was marred by one loss--a 39-38 overtime setback to Presbyterian--which was one of the toughest home losses to swallow in quite some time for the Furman football program.
Conference play again had its own set of challenges, with some exhilarating wins like the come-from-behind triumph over ETSU and stout defensive effort en route to a 24-14 home win over bitter rival The Citadel, while lopsided losses at Western Carolina (L, 52-24), vs. Mercer (L, 52-28) and at Chattanooga (L, 28-45) were
Now three years removed from that memorable run to the brink of an FCS Semifinal appearance, the Paladins are hungry to be back in the national spotlight again following a 9-15 combined mark in '24 and '25 after posting a 20-6 combined record in '22 and '23.
With the second-most experienced team in the SoCon (only Wofford has more returning), Furman will be in the mix to add a 16th Southern Conference title plaque to the Fieldhouse wall at Paladin Stadium this fall. The Paladins have made the necessary acquisitions from the transfer portal to help.
Defensive coordinator Chad Byers
It's a new era for both college football and Furman football, and that means that adaptation at the FCS level is a primary means to survival in this 'Brave New World'.
Adaptation for a program like Furman doesn't look the same as it does at peer schools like East Tennessee State or Western Carolina, but for head coach Clay Hendrix (60-41/10th yr), he's developed his own system and way of making sure the Paladins stay relevant in this new world of college football, which is dominated by NIL opportunities at the FBS level.
The challenge is retaining to develop within the framework that demands you took in almost a new 45-50 players each off-season in order to provide adequate replacements for the that outgoing talent that you lose and still have enough left over to build some depth.
But Hendrix and his staff also have to do that by balancing the school's academic profile at the same time, which over the years, has been more stringent than lenient when it comes to working with potential the academic side of a student's program, which is unlike other programs at this level with a similar academic profile.
With that said, Hendrix and staff have battled such challenges long before NIL or the transfer portal, so that side of finding guys that fit the Furman profile isn't anything, but it's just more the issue of when you have to find those guys and how many of those guys you need as adequate replacements.
Among its Southern Conference peers, however, Furman has done just about as well as anyone at retaining talent, and coming off a 6-6 season in 2025, Hendrix knew the potential ahead for the program to returning to being a contender nationally, as Furman has been one of the youngest teams in FCS football each of the past two seasons after making that run to the FCS quarterfinals in 2023, where the Paladins came up just short against Montana (L, 35-28 OT), and of becoming the first SoCon team to make it to the FCS Semifinals since 2011 and first since 2005 if counting the current membership.
In 2022 and '23, Furman returned to national prominence on the gridiron, which is something the program hadn't enjoyed for the better part of two decades, or really since the first six years of the new millennium, with Furman's last deep run into the FCS postseason coming in 2005, when it lost in the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs on the road at Appalachian State (L, 29-23).
The Paladins were able to figure a thing or two out during COVID-19, and it was based on the principles that Hendrix and Furman had always been about, which is a focus on development and teams maturing together. It's harder now because even if you retain a lot of talent, you still inevitably lose some, and for Furman, which has been especially young, there is a learning curve and a new way of doing things.
The past two seasons Furman has put in the work and put up with a lot of growing pains as a result of a 2023 class, which was built on maturity and the extra COVID year to make a run at a national title.
The Paladins weren't all that far away in '23, finishing the SoCon season in dominant fashion, claiming the program's first outright SoCon title since 1989, and now two years on, there's a buzz around the program again.
With the departure of 46 seniors, humility and harsh reality were served all at once against Lane Kiffin's Ole Miss Rebels in the '24 season opener, which saw the Paladins suffer one of their worst losses in program history, with a 76-0 setback to the FBS national title contender.
Youthful inexperience wasn't the only thing the program was dealing with, as young defensive lineman Bryce Stanfield passed suddenly due to a medical emergency in February of '24, as it was just a couple days before spring practice in 2024. That left a huge emotional toll, and the grief experienced for such a tight-knit program and community like Furman has, was not easy to heal from.
The '24 opener was a shell-shocking loss, and while those kinds of defeats are more common now even for good FCS teams when facing SEC powerhouses, it was still a jarring loss for a program that in previous decades, had been competitive more often than not in games against the big boys. In fact, just two years earlier, Furman had outgained Clemson (387-378) in a 35-12 loss to the Tigers.
The Paladins went on to experiencing big growing pains, and the Ole Miss loss combined with all of the continued healing from Stanfield's sudden death, an uncanny amoung of injuries on defense, and the damage the campus incurred from Hurricane Helene, which forced the cancellation of Furman's league game against Samford in late September, snowballed into a season that saw the Paladins finish just 3-8 overall and 2-5 in league play.
The Paladins would eventually show the kind of character and development the program had become known for, as the Paladins could have easily just mailed in the season after back-to-back home losses to Chattanooga (L, 41-10) and Western Carolina (L, 52-20) by a combined score of 93-20.
Furman's 21-17 loss at VMI saw Furman reach a low point, and after a 19-13 home loss to Wofford accounted for a fourth-straight league defeat, Furman's game against nationally-ranked East Tennessee State, which had postseason aspirations if it could win its remaining two games against Furman and VMI, it would have been easy to conclude that another double-digit loss was there right on the horizon. However, with an inspired performance on both sides of the football, the Paladins found a way to post what was a 24-21 win over East Tennessee State.
For the players, the joy felt for the win over the nationally-ranked Bucs was very similar to Furman's 17-14 win at Chattanooga to clinch a share of the regular-season title almost exactly a year earlier.
Furman's 2025 campaign was a step in the right direction, with thrilling non-conference wins over William & Mary and a triumph at Campbell, as the Paladins held the Camels out of the end zone deep in its own red zone late in the game, marked a couple of gritty performances for Hendrix's team.
The non-conference slate was marred by one loss--a 39-38 overtime setback to Presbyterian--which was one of the toughest home losses to swallow in quite some time for the Furman football program.
Conference play again had its own set of challenges, with some exhilarating wins like the come-from-behind triumph over ETSU and stout defensive effort en route to a 24-14 home win over bitter rival The Citadel, while lopsided losses at Western Carolina (L, 52-24), vs. Mercer (L, 52-28) and at Chattanooga (L, 28-45) were
Now three years removed from that memorable run to the brink of an FCS Semifinal appearance, the Paladins are hungry to be back in the national spotlight again following a 9-15 combined mark in '24 and '25 after posting a 20-6 combined record in '22 and '23.
With the second-most experienced team in the SoCon (only Wofford has more returning), Furman will be in the mix to add a 16th Southern Conference title plaque to the Fieldhouse wall at Paladin Stadium this fall. The Paladins have made the necessary acquisitions from the transfer portal to help.
Defensive coordinator Chad Byers
Coaching Changes
Furman has had quite the off-season when it comes to having to find some new coaching talent, as Tommy Spangler retired, wide receivers coach Nic Verna took a new job at Towson, and long-time defensive coordinator Duane Vaughn has moved on to the same position at Western Michigan, ending a 15-year run as part of the Paladin defensive staff. Offensive line coach Matt McCutchan did not have his contract renewed following the season.
All told, for a staff that had prided itself on being one of the staffs with the least amount of turnover in the SoCon for each of the past three seasons, made a total of five changes to its staff during the off-season, which isn't also isn't necessarily a bad thing.
While it's tough to see guys like Verna, Vaughn and Spangler move on, as all three were such significant contributors to Furman's 2022 and '23 success, sometimes change to a staff is a necessity to help maintain the health of a winning program such as the one Furman has. It also offers a chance to get some former players plugged back into a program they once helped make successful over the course of their careers as players.
The good news is that Furman had some of those replacements already on staff to be able to fill some of those vacancies, while others were able to return home to Furman to help fill a couple of others.
Clay Hendrix promoted linebackers coach and co-Defensive coordinator Chad Byers to the role of defensive coordinator, as the former James Madison standout linebacker is set to replace Vaughn this fall. Byers served as the co-Defensive coordinator for the past four seasons, and he will be entering his seventh season on staff at Furman.
Byers was responsible for helping develop All-SoCon linebacker Evan DiMaggio into one of the very best defenders in the SoCon back in 2024. DiMaggio paced the Southern Conference with 120 tackles in his final campaign in Greenville two years ago.
Alongside Vaughn, Byers was instrumental in helping that 2023 defensive unit to become among the most dominant in the nation, led by linebacker Braden Gilby and as strong of a defensive front four as any in the entire country.
The '23 defense would end up leading the SoCon in multiple categories, which included rushing defense (96.9 YPG), total defense (316.0 YPG), scoring defense (18.2 PPG), third down percentage defense (.322), fourth down percentage defense (.384), red zone, defense (.722), turnovers gained (34) and turnover margin (+1.84).
The other additions to the defensive side of the ball include a pair of former Paladins, with Nicky Kuzemka returning after being a graduate assistant for two seasons at James Madison, and was set to be part of Bob Chesney's new staff at UCLA when he got the call to return to Furman.
Kuzemka, who played linebacker at Furman from 2019-23, was a graduate assistant with the Dukes, helping that program make college football history by qualifying for the FBS 12-team playoff in 2025. Kuzemka will coach the outside linebackers for the Paladins this fall.
During his career as a linebacker for the 'Dins, Kuzemka saw action in 45 games and totaled 110 tackles in his Furman career, including being named to the SoCon's All-Freshman team in 2019. He was named to the SoCon's All-Academic team all four years during his SoCon career, and was a member of two 10-win teams in 2022 and '23, including helping the Paladins claim their first outright SoCon title for the first time in 34 years during his senior campaign.
Set to serve as the special teams coordinator and safeties coach--a role that had been filled by Tommy Spangler--is another former Paladin, in Hugh Ryan (2019-23). Like Kuzemka, Ryan was a big part of that group that helped restore Furman's program to national prominence, and has served as Furman's defensive quality control assistant ever since finishing out his career as a Paladin safety in 2023.
The Irmo, S.C. product played in 57-career games, logging 45 starts and finished his career with 263 tackles, nine interceptions, and was a two-time All-SoCon selection. Ryan was also a three-time SoCon All-Academic selection. He was instrumental in helping the Paladins rank as one of the top defensive units in the FCS in 2023, helping the Paladins to a league standard 15th SoCon title and first outright SoCon crown in 34 years.
He will have some large shoes to fill in replacing Spangler, who spent his final four seasons as a football coach on staff at Furman. Spangler, who charts time as an assistant at both Georgia Southern, Louisiana Tech and serving in two different stints as a head coach at Presbyterian, totaling 10 years of head coaching experience in those two different stints.
Spangler was instrumental in helping Furman lead the nation in blocked kicks in 2022 (10), as well as helping craft a secondary that was among the best in the FCS, led by free safety Hugh Ryan and All-American cornerback Travis Blackshear.
Kevin Lewis returns for his sixth season as the Paladin defensive line coach and run game coordinator, while Tafon Mainsah is returns to his role as the cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator.
Furman has had quite the off-season when it comes to having to find some new coaching talent, as Tommy Spangler retired, wide receivers coach Nic Verna took a new job at Towson, and long-time defensive coordinator Duane Vaughn has moved on to the same position at Western Michigan, ending a 15-year run as part of the Paladin defensive staff. Offensive line coach Matt McCutchan did not have his contract renewed following the season.
All told, for a staff that had prided itself on being one of the staffs with the least amount of turnover in the SoCon for each of the past three seasons, made a total of five changes to its staff during the off-season, which isn't also isn't necessarily a bad thing.
While it's tough to see guys like Verna, Vaughn and Spangler move on, as all three were such significant contributors to Furman's 2022 and '23 success, sometimes change to a staff is a necessity to help maintain the health of a winning program such as the one Furman has. It also offers a chance to get some former players plugged back into a program they once helped make successful over the course of their careers as players.
The good news is that Furman had some of those replacements already on staff to be able to fill some of those vacancies, while others were able to return home to Furman to help fill a couple of others.
Clay Hendrix promoted linebackers coach and co-Defensive coordinator Chad Byers to the role of defensive coordinator, as the former James Madison standout linebacker is set to replace Vaughn this fall. Byers served as the co-Defensive coordinator for the past four seasons, and he will be entering his seventh season on staff at Furman.
Byers was responsible for helping develop All-SoCon linebacker Evan DiMaggio into one of the very best defenders in the SoCon back in 2024. DiMaggio paced the Southern Conference with 120 tackles in his final campaign in Greenville two years ago.
Alongside Vaughn, Byers was instrumental in helping that 2023 defensive unit to become among the most dominant in the nation, led by linebacker Braden Gilby and as strong of a defensive front four as any in the entire country.
The '23 defense would end up leading the SoCon in multiple categories, which included rushing defense (96.9 YPG), total defense (316.0 YPG), scoring defense (18.2 PPG), third down percentage defense (.322), fourth down percentage defense (.384), red zone, defense (.722), turnovers gained (34) and turnover margin (+1.84).
The other additions to the defensive side of the ball include a pair of former Paladins, with Nicky Kuzemka returning after being a graduate assistant for two seasons at James Madison, and was set to be part of Bob Chesney's new staff at UCLA when he got the call to return to Furman.
Kuzemka, who played linebacker at Furman from 2019-23, was a graduate assistant with the Dukes, helping that program make college football history by qualifying for the FBS 12-team playoff in 2025. Kuzemka will coach the outside linebackers for the Paladins this fall.
During his career as a linebacker for the 'Dins, Kuzemka saw action in 45 games and totaled 110 tackles in his Furman career, including being named to the SoCon's All-Freshman team in 2019. He was named to the SoCon's All-Academic team all four years during his SoCon career, and was a member of two 10-win teams in 2022 and '23, including helping the Paladins claim their first outright SoCon title for the first time in 34 years during his senior campaign.
Set to serve as the special teams coordinator and safeties coach--a role that had been filled by Tommy Spangler--is another former Paladin, in Hugh Ryan (2019-23). Like Kuzemka, Ryan was a big part of that group that helped restore Furman's program to national prominence, and has served as Furman's defensive quality control assistant ever since finishing out his career as a Paladin safety in 2023.
The Irmo, S.C. product played in 57-career games, logging 45 starts and finished his career with 263 tackles, nine interceptions, and was a two-time All-SoCon selection. Ryan was also a three-time SoCon All-Academic selection. He was instrumental in helping the Paladins rank as one of the top defensive units in the FCS in 2023, helping the Paladins to a league standard 15th SoCon title and first outright SoCon crown in 34 years.
He will have some large shoes to fill in replacing Spangler, who spent his final four seasons as a football coach on staff at Furman. Spangler, who charts time as an assistant at both Georgia Southern, Louisiana Tech and serving in two different stints as a head coach at Presbyterian, totaling 10 years of head coaching experience in those two different stints.
Spangler was instrumental in helping Furman lead the nation in blocked kicks in 2022 (10), as well as helping craft a secondary that was among the best in the FCS, led by free safety Hugh Ryan and All-American cornerback Travis Blackshear.
Kevin Lewis returns for his sixth season as the Paladin defensive line coach and run game coordinator, while Tafon Mainsah is returns to his role as the cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator.
The final change on the defensive side of the ball is the most recent one, as Taifon Manseh left his position as Furman's cornerbacks coach to take a job in the same role at Rice. The vacancy at cornerbacks coach would ultimately be filled by Nasir Greer late in the spring, as he comes from Wake Forest.
The offensive side of the ball will see Kyle Jolly promoted to Offensive Line coach to replace McCutchan, while Grayson Kline will coach the tight ends for the Paladins with Verna having moved on to Towson.
Kline spent two seasons at Dartmouth as the offensive quality control coach and started his career back in 2023 as the defensive quality control and special teams coach at Long Island University.
As a player, Kline spent five seasons as a member of the Penn State football program and would begin his career as a quarterback before transitioning to tight end. Also on offense, Josh Murphy had his job title promoted to wide receivers coach after serving as the offensive quality control coach in 2025. The responsibility was previously undertaken by Drew Dudzik, who has now taken on the role as quarterbacks coach along with being the Paladins' passing game coordinator.
Offensive coordinator Justin Roper is back for his fifth season in the same role, although he will relinquish the role of quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator to Dudzik. Rounding out the staff will be running backs coach Cory Colder, who enters his third season with the program serving in the same role, as well being the offensive recruiting coordinator.
The offensive side of the ball will see Kyle Jolly promoted to Offensive Line coach to replace McCutchan, while Grayson Kline will coach the tight ends for the Paladins with Verna having moved on to Towson.
Kline spent two seasons at Dartmouth as the offensive quality control coach and started his career back in 2023 as the defensive quality control and special teams coach at Long Island University.
As a player, Kline spent five seasons as a member of the Penn State football program and would begin his career as a quarterback before transitioning to tight end. Also on offense, Josh Murphy had his job title promoted to wide receivers coach after serving as the offensive quality control coach in 2025. The responsibility was previously undertaken by Drew Dudzik, who has now taken on the role as quarterbacks coach along with being the Paladins' passing game coordinator.
Offensive coordinator Justin Roper is back for his fifth season in the same role, although he will relinquish the role of quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator to Dudzik. Rounding out the staff will be running backs coach Cory Colder, who enters his third season with the program serving in the same role, as well being the offensive recruiting coordinator.
Traditionally, Furman is known for having one of the most well-respected staffs in all of FCS football, and nothing will change from that side of things in 2026.
Furman quarterback Tyler Huff never lost a SoCon game as a starter
Offensive Overview
"The Tyler Huff Effect"
If you look at the post Tyler Huff era at Furman, it hasn't been necessarily pretty when it comes to running the football, which has been an area that has been as much a part of Furman football as winning a league standard 15 league titles has been, and if you do the math, running the ball and winning titles seemingly go hand-in-hand.
One of the things that made Furman so successful running the football during Huff's two seasons as quarterback was his ability to tuck the ball and pick yards--at times big yardage--when the play broke down. Also, Huff changed the playbook, and his ability to run the football helped neutralize a team like Chattanooga, which year-in and year-out produces one the top defensive lines and pass-rushes in the FCS.
With Huff at the controls of the Furman offense in 2022 and '23, it helped make the Paladin running game quite versatile, with bruising 245-lb Dominic Roberto offering an excellent compliment to Huff's instincts and deceptive speed, and by default, it opened up the options in the playbook for offensive coordinator Justin Roper.
In those two seasons, having Huff under center for the Paladins gave them an element they had lacked since having a guy like Devin Grainger (2017-19) or before that, PJ Blazejowski (2013-17) under center.
When Roper picked Trey Hedden to be Huff's successor under center, he couldn't have picked a more opposite quarterback type, as Hedden was a pro-style quarterback with a big arm and virtually no running ability. That by default would see Furman's offense regress in 2024 and '25, becoming more one-dimensional and predicable.
As Furman's starting quarterback in 2022 and '23, Huff rushed for 1,285 yards and 14 TDs in 23 games, leading the Paladins to a 19-3 mark over two seasons as the starter. Furman never lost a Southern Conference game that Huff started.
Furman's losses to both Wofford in 2023 and Samford in 2022 came with backups under center, with Jace Wilson starting the game against Samford in 2022 and Carson Jones starting against Wofford in 2023. The Paladins have struggled running the ball since Tyler Huff has departed the program, making life tough as a whole offensively.
The Paladins averaged just 100.5 YPG on the ground last season, which ranked the Paladins 116th out of 126 teams in FCS in rushing offense last season. In 2024, the Paladins fielded their first team in program history that averaged less than 100 yards-per-game on the ground, as the Paladins averaged a program record low 89.8 YPG on the ground to rank 117th nationally.
With Huff being Furman's signal-caller in both the 2022 and '23 campaigns, the Paladins ranked 15th in the nation in 2022, averaging 212.8 YPG and in 2023, Furman finished out the season ranking 43rd in the FCS in rushing offense, averaging 156.9 YPG.
The entirety of those problems to effectively run the ball can't all be laid at the feet of Hedden, who was a prolific passer in his two seasons leading the Furman offense, but his lack of running ability in the end proved to be the undoing of the Tampa Bay product, as well as in more broad terms, the Furman offense as a whole.
In his final season as Furman's quarterback, Hedden finished the campaign by setting a single-season school mark for passing yards (2,967), which was previously set by former Paladin legend Ingle Martin in Furman's run the FCS Semifinals in 2005, passing for 2,959 yards in 14 games.
In two seasons as Furman's signal-caller, Hedden completed 438-of-668 passes for 4,734 yards, with 30 TDs and 22 INTs. In 2025, Hedden was 287-of-420 passing for 2,967 yards, with 17 TDs and 13 INTs. As a starter in 23 games over the course of two seasons leading the Furman offense, Hedden posted just a 9-14 record. Hedden entered the transfer portal shortly after the completion of the 2025 season, and he will make his new home in Las Cruces, New Mexico, as he will suit up for the New Mexico State Aggies next season.
Furman will enter the 2026 season with four capable signal-callers, which includes a sophomore, graduate transfer, a senior and a true freshman.
If you look at the post Tyler Huff era at Furman, it hasn't been necessarily pretty when it comes to running the football, which has been an area that has been as much a part of Furman football as winning a league standard 15 league titles has been, and if you do the math, running the ball and winning titles seemingly go hand-in-hand.
One of the things that made Furman so successful running the football during Huff's two seasons as quarterback was his ability to tuck the ball and pick yards--at times big yardage--when the play broke down. Also, Huff changed the playbook, and his ability to run the football helped neutralize a team like Chattanooga, which year-in and year-out produces one the top defensive lines and pass-rushes in the FCS.
With Huff at the controls of the Furman offense in 2022 and '23, it helped make the Paladin running game quite versatile, with bruising 245-lb Dominic Roberto offering an excellent compliment to Huff's instincts and deceptive speed, and by default, it opened up the options in the playbook for offensive coordinator Justin Roper.
In those two seasons, having Huff under center for the Paladins gave them an element they had lacked since having a guy like Devin Grainger (2017-19) or before that, PJ Blazejowski (2013-17) under center.
When Roper picked Trey Hedden to be Huff's successor under center, he couldn't have picked a more opposite quarterback type, as Hedden was a pro-style quarterback with a big arm and virtually no running ability. That by default would see Furman's offense regress in 2024 and '25, becoming more one-dimensional and predicable.
As Furman's starting quarterback in 2022 and '23, Huff rushed for 1,285 yards and 14 TDs in 23 games, leading the Paladins to a 19-3 mark over two seasons as the starter. Furman never lost a Southern Conference game that Huff started.
Furman's losses to both Wofford in 2023 and Samford in 2022 came with backups under center, with Jace Wilson starting the game against Samford in 2022 and Carson Jones starting against Wofford in 2023. The Paladins have struggled running the ball since Tyler Huff has departed the program, making life tough as a whole offensively.
The Paladins averaged just 100.5 YPG on the ground last season, which ranked the Paladins 116th out of 126 teams in FCS in rushing offense last season. In 2024, the Paladins fielded their first team in program history that averaged less than 100 yards-per-game on the ground, as the Paladins averaged a program record low 89.8 YPG on the ground to rank 117th nationally.
With Huff being Furman's signal-caller in both the 2022 and '23 campaigns, the Paladins ranked 15th in the nation in 2022, averaging 212.8 YPG and in 2023, Furman finished out the season ranking 43rd in the FCS in rushing offense, averaging 156.9 YPG.
The entirety of those problems to effectively run the ball can't all be laid at the feet of Hedden, who was a prolific passer in his two seasons leading the Furman offense, but his lack of running ability in the end proved to be the undoing of the Tampa Bay product, as well as in more broad terms, the Furman offense as a whole.
In his final season as Furman's quarterback, Hedden finished the campaign by setting a single-season school mark for passing yards (2,967), which was previously set by former Paladin legend Ingle Martin in Furman's run the FCS Semifinals in 2005, passing for 2,959 yards in 14 games.
In two seasons as Furman's signal-caller, Hedden completed 438-of-668 passes for 4,734 yards, with 30 TDs and 22 INTs. In 2025, Hedden was 287-of-420 passing for 2,967 yards, with 17 TDs and 13 INTs. As a starter in 23 games over the course of two seasons leading the Furman offense, Hedden posted just a 9-14 record. Hedden entered the transfer portal shortly after the completion of the 2025 season, and he will make his new home in Las Cruces, New Mexico, as he will suit up for the New Mexico State Aggies next season.
Furman will enter the 2026 season with four capable signal-callers, which includes a sophomore, graduate transfer, a senior and a true freshman.
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| Record-Setting Freshman Wideout Evan James transferred to Iowa during the off-season |
In regards to which side of the ball was hurt worse by the transfer portal, it was definitely the offensive side of the ball. Furman lost another record-setting player in its offense from the 2025, as Evan James has chosen to move up to the power four level of FBS football, as he will suit up for the Iowa Hawkeyes next season.
James was a record-setting talent at wide receiver and was a Jerry Rice Award candidate last season after hauling in 65 passes for a freshman record 796 yards and seven TDs. He averaged 12.2 YPR.
The Paladins also lost Ja'Keith Hamilton, who was the second-leading receiver last season, as he transferred out to East Carolina after ranking second on the team in rushing last season, finishing the campaign with 40 catches for 545 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 13.6 YPR.
Furman also bids farewell to wideout Kerry King, a player that transferred in from East Carolina prior to the 2025 season but had only one season of eligibility remaining. The final significant loss from a year ago on the offensive side of the ball is tight end Joshua Burrell, who has chosen to move on and play his final season in the Sun Belt at Arkansas State.
All told, Furman finished out the season ranking 70th in total offense (350.8 YPG), 116th in rushing offense (100.5 YPG), 21st in passing offense (250.2 YPG), 68th in scoring offense (24.4 PPG) and 57th in third down conversion percentage (39.1%).
Below is a detailed, position-by-position, look at what the Furman offense will bring to the table in 2026
James was a record-setting talent at wide receiver and was a Jerry Rice Award candidate last season after hauling in 65 passes for a freshman record 796 yards and seven TDs. He averaged 12.2 YPR.
The Paladins also lost Ja'Keith Hamilton, who was the second-leading receiver last season, as he transferred out to East Carolina after ranking second on the team in rushing last season, finishing the campaign with 40 catches for 545 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 13.6 YPR.
Furman also bids farewell to wideout Kerry King, a player that transferred in from East Carolina prior to the 2025 season but had only one season of eligibility remaining. The final significant loss from a year ago on the offensive side of the ball is tight end Joshua Burrell, who has chosen to move on and play his final season in the Sun Belt at Arkansas State.
All told, Furman finished out the season ranking 70th in total offense (350.8 YPG), 116th in rushing offense (100.5 YPG), 21st in passing offense (250.2 YPG), 68th in scoring offense (24.4 PPG) and 57th in third down conversion percentage (39.1%).
Below is a detailed, position-by-position, look at what the Furman offense will bring to the table in 2026
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| Furman senior quarterback Neuhel Garcia |
Quarterbacks
A real issue of concern since Tyler Huff's departure at the end of the 2023 season for Jacksonville State has been the quarterback position. However, in 2026, there figures to be a renewed hope in the position after Trey Hedden has transferred to New Mexico State. It wasn't that Hedden was a bad quarterback, but it was more that he wasn't right for the Furman offense.
A real issue of concern since Tyler Huff's departure at the end of the 2023 season for Jacksonville State has been the quarterback position. However, in 2026, there figures to be a renewed hope in the position after Trey Hedden has transferred to New Mexico State. It wasn't that Hedden was a bad quarterback, but it was more that he wasn't right for the Furman offense.
When the Paladins get together for fall camp in late July, the quarterback job will be open for tryouts, and that will include several viable candidates. The player that got the most reps in the spring is Western New Mexico transfer Connor Ackerley, and if the season were to start today, he would undoubtedly be the starter for the Paladins in their season opener against Anderson University on Aug. 27.
Ackerley spent his first two seasons as the quarterback at Western New Mexico before opting to transfer to Furman. During the spring, Ackerley looked good under center running the Furman offense, and though not quite the run threat that Huff was, he showed the ability to run if he had to, as well as the ability to escape pressure. The more impressive aspects of his game were his accuracy, arm strength, as well as his poise under pressure.
The 6-1, 170-lb native of Tempe, AZ arrives at Furman with three years of eligibility remaining. In 2024 as a true freshman, he appeared in only four games and retained his redshirt year. In his rookie season at Western New Mexico, Ackerley completed 49-of-93 passes for 621 yards, with six touchdowns and four interceptions. In addition to his 2,999 passing yards, Ackerely added 89 rushing yards to go along with four TDs on the ground.
The 2025 season would see Ackerley start all 11 games for the Mustangs, as he would connect on 253-of-397 passes (63.7%) for 2,999 yards, with 30 TDs and 12 INTs. His top game of the season would come in a 69-55 loss to New Mexico Highlands, as he connected on 34-of-57 throws for a career-best 527 yards, with seven TDs and only one INT.
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| Graduate transfer quarterback Jake Garcia |
The other transfer that will have a chance to compete for the starting job, but did not take part in spring drills is graduate transfer Jake Garcia from the University of Michigan.
The 6-2, 210-lb native of Whittier, CA., spent the 2025 season as a member of the Michigan Wolverines team, and after what went down in the offseason with the program and its head coach, Garcia was looking for a better situation on the field, but more a better environment off the field. He found that at Furman, and he figures to come in and immediately compete for the starting job.
He passed for 1,426 yards and eight touchdowns in the 2024 season with East Carolina before opting to transfer defending national champion Michigan. Garcia began his college career at the University of Miami in 2021 and saw action in one game during that season for the Hurricanes before going down with an injury that would keep him out for the remainder of the season.
He passed for 1,426 yards and eight touchdowns in the 2024 season with East Carolina before opting to transfer defending national champion Michigan. Garcia began his college career at the University of Miami in 2021 and saw action in one game during that season for the Hurricanes before going down with an injury that would keep him out for the remainder of the season.
In 2022, Garcia would complete 68-of-115 passes for 803 yards and five touchdowns with the Hurricanes, including delivering a scoring strike in his first-career start, which was a 14-12 win over Virginia.
The lone holdover at quarterback from last season for the Paladins is Neuel Garcia, who will be a redshirt junior for the Paladins this fall. The 6-0, 202-lb native of La Mirada, CA., has yet to get much of an opportunity in his first two seasons with the program, but will have his best opportunity to challenge for time in the lineup this fall after spending his first two seasons playing behind both Trey Hedden and Carson Jones.
With both having moved on, Garcia finds himself with the opportunity to engage in a brand new quarterback battle and show that he's ready to lead the Paladin offense in 2026. He's appeared in only four games across three seasons in his Paladin career.
The final candidate to compete for the starting job under center for the 2026 season is Roswell High School (5A) product Trey Smith. The 6-0, 205-lb native of Roswell was a star where he served as the team captain in both his junior and senior campaigns, respectively. Like Bouton, Smith is also a dual-threat type of option under center.
During his senior season last fall, Smith passed for 3,026 yards and 27 TDs, while rushing for another 1,268 yards and 25 TDs to help Roswell to a 12-2 record, region championship and state semifinalist. Smith was named region player of the year, GACA Offensive Player of the Year, and was a first-team Atlanta Journal Constitution All-State selection. Smith was a two-sport athlete, as he also played the sport of baseball during his career at Roswell.
The lone holdover at quarterback from last season for the Paladins is Neuel Garcia, who will be a redshirt junior for the Paladins this fall. The 6-0, 202-lb native of La Mirada, CA., has yet to get much of an opportunity in his first two seasons with the program, but will have his best opportunity to challenge for time in the lineup this fall after spending his first two seasons playing behind both Trey Hedden and Carson Jones.
With both having moved on, Garcia finds himself with the opportunity to engage in a brand new quarterback battle and show that he's ready to lead the Paladin offense in 2026. He's appeared in only four games across three seasons in his Paladin career.
The final candidate to compete for the starting job under center for the 2026 season is Roswell High School (5A) product Trey Smith. The 6-0, 205-lb native of Roswell was a star where he served as the team captain in both his junior and senior campaigns, respectively. Like Bouton, Smith is also a dual-threat type of option under center.
During his senior season last fall, Smith passed for 3,026 yards and 27 TDs, while rushing for another 1,268 yards and 25 TDs to help Roswell to a 12-2 record, region championship and state semifinalist. Smith was named region player of the year, GACA Offensive Player of the Year, and was a first-team Atlanta Journal Constitution All-State selection. Smith was a two-sport athlete, as he also played the sport of baseball during his career at Roswell.
Smith is a player that has really come on in preseason camp, and with his running ability and arm strength, could be in line to win the second-string spot over Connor Ackerley, although have been impressive through the first couple of weeks of camp. One of the things that Smith came in was an awkward throwing motion, and it will be something that new quarterbacks coach Drew Dudzik will try and tweak as Smith gets more comfortable learning the Paladin offense.
Quarterbacks Analysis
With four viable candidates looking to get the nod as the starter, it should be an exciting quarterback battle during preseason camp. I expect the starter to come down between both Garcia and Ackerley, with Banks Bouton being too athletic and possessing too much of a playmaking ability to be kept off the field for the Paladins this fall. To this point in fall camp a little less than three weeks out from the season, it's easy to see that Jake Garcia is likely the starter heading into the campaign, as he has pulled away in the battle for the job over the past week or so. The real interesting battle is for the second-string spot, as
Quarterbacks Analysis
With four viable candidates looking to get the nod as the starter, it should be an exciting quarterback battle during preseason camp. I expect the starter to come down between both Garcia and Ackerley, with Banks Bouton being too athletic and possessing too much of a playmaking ability to be kept off the field for the Paladins this fall. To this point in fall camp a little less than three weeks out from the season, it's easy to see that Jake Garcia is likely the starter heading into the campaign, as he has pulled away in the battle for the job over the past week or so. The real interesting battle is for the second-string spot, as
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| Furman sophomore running back CJ Nettles |
Running Backs
Furman's tradition at the running back position has been one that has been defined by greatness over the past half-century plus, and the success the running backs that define the history at the position over that span have been a big part of why the Paladins have been able to count a national title, 15 SoCon titles, three title game appearances and a Walter Payton Award to its credit over the past five decades.
Since 1971, Furman has had 17 running backs eclipse the 1,000-yard plateau in a single-season but have yet to have one accomplish the feat since 2022 when Dominic Roberto rushed for 1,120 yards and 11 scores in his junior campaign, helping the Paladins to a 10-win season, as well as helping the 'Dins to advance to the second round of the FCS Playoffs.
Since the graduation of Roberto in 2023, however, the Paladins have struggled to effectively run the football between the tackles at times, and the '24 season would see Furman finish a season with a below 100.0 YPG rushing average for the first time in school history.
The 2024 season would see talented and powerful Jay'Quan Smith forced to miss the entire season with an injury, and to be quite honest, there was a notable talent decline at the position as a whole. Smith returned in a limited role last season but retired from football after last season with one year of eligibility remaining as a result of his injuries.
Ultimately, the Gavin Hall project at running back, which looked promising at the start, never materialized, and he would enter the transfer portal after his season was ended prematurely with an injury suffered in Furman's loss at Wofford. He would finish up the season as the Paladins' leading rusher, however, finishing the campaign with 437 yards and three TDs on 118 attempts.
That leaves sophomore running back CJ Nettles, which would be part of that big improvement for the Paladins would see big improvement in the ground attack last season even though there was only an 11-yard advantage in rushing yards per game output.
With that said, Nettles will give the Paladins a shifty, elusive option that can break the big run at any given moment. Nettles has game-breaking speed, as evidenced by his 67-yard scoring run against Mercer in a late-season home loss last season.
The 5-9, 185-lb sophomore is Furman's leading returning rusher, and the Pensacola, FL, native has a low center of gravity as a runner, making him especially hard to tackle. He is able to absorb contact as a result, maintaining his balance and can keep going. He is the kind of running back you have to make sure you wrap up when going to make the tackle.
During his freshman campaign with the Paladins a year ago, Nettles rushed for 358 yards on 85 attempts, with a pair of touchdowns, averaging 4.2 yards-per-carry. The Florida Panhandle native also showed the ability to effectively catch passes out of the backfield last season, hauling in 14 passes for 75 yards. Expect him to be used even more in that capacity this season, as he will add a playmaking ability that opposing defenses will have to account for in that capacity as well.
He enjoyed his best game of the season in Furman's 52-28 loss to No. 13 Mercer, as Nettles finished the contest rushing for 105 yards on 15 carries, which included that season-long 67-yard scoring run. Nettles not being included on the SoCon's All-Freshman Team last season was a pretty big oversight by the head coaches.
Nonetheless, expect to see the young, talented running back take that next natural step that so many other Paladin running backs do, and I think he will at least threaten to become the 18th Paladin running back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
The reason he might not get that chance won't be due to an ineffective ground attack, which has been the case for the Paladins the past two seasons, but more because he will have a talented running back alongside to share the ground-gaining responsibilities with this fall, with the addition of Charlotte transfer CJ Stokes to the Paladin backfield.
The 5-10, 200-lb Stokes hails from Columbia, S.C., and he'll have two years of eligibility remaining as a graduate student. He spent the past two seasons at both Charlotte (2024 and '25) and before that Michigan (2022 and '23). At Charlotte, Stokes logged action in eight games, including making three starts, with 182 yards and two touchdowns on 85 rush attempts.
In his freshman season at Michigan, Stokes rushed for 273 yards and a score on 55 attempts, and he owns a national title ring, as he was a member of the Wolverines' 2023 national title winning squad. Stokes offers a bit more size and a bit of a different running style than the other CJ, and he will be a nice compliment of strength and power in short-yardage situations. Prior to his collegiate career at the NCAA Division I FBS level, Stokes played his prep football at the prestigious Hammond School in Columbia, S.C., where he was the team captain as a senior and helped that program to its fourth-straight state title.
Isaiah Davis is a talented redshirt freshman running back that should see his first meaningful action in the Paladin backfield this fall, and he's expected to be in the rotation as one of the running backs that makes an impact this fall as being part of the rotation. Davis is a native of Cleveland, TN., where he rushed for 1,503 yards and 13 touchdowns for Cleveland High School (6A) during his senior campaign.
Davis has both good vision and elusiveness and earned some limited action in three games for Furman in 2025. He rushed three times for 37 yards in Furman's 32-14 win over VMI in Greenville last season.
Ben Croasdale proved to be an effective part of the rotation last season in the backfield, as the 5-11, 202-lb graduate student was an asset to the Paladin ground attack at a time last season when Furman was undermanned due to injuries. The Dallas, TX, native was able to log his most meaningful playing time of his Furman career last season, especially in a mid-season win over arch-rival The Citadel, finishing the contest by rushing for a career-high 91 yards on 19 attempts.
In Furman's road loss at Chattanooga last season, he rushed 10 times for 43 yards and a touchdown. Croasdale was also solid in Furman's 32-14, late-season win over VMI, as he finished with 14 carries for 70 yards, and in the regular-season finale at Clemson, finished with 38 yards on eight carries. All told, for the season Croasdale ended the campaign with 62 rush attempts for 320 yards and a pair of touchdowns, averaging a solid 5.2 yards-per-attempt. His yards-per-attempt average was tops among Furman ground-gainers last season.
Furman has experience and depth at running back returning in both redshirt sophomore Kevin Everhart and redshirt junior Jalil Garvin-Mingo. Garvin-Mingo was able to log his first action as a Paladin running back last fall, making his career debut in Furman's lopsided win over VMI.
Furman's tradition at the running back position has been one that has been defined by greatness over the past half-century plus, and the success the running backs that define the history at the position over that span have been a big part of why the Paladins have been able to count a national title, 15 SoCon titles, three title game appearances and a Walter Payton Award to its credit over the past five decades.
Since 1971, Furman has had 17 running backs eclipse the 1,000-yard plateau in a single-season but have yet to have one accomplish the feat since 2022 when Dominic Roberto rushed for 1,120 yards and 11 scores in his junior campaign, helping the Paladins to a 10-win season, as well as helping the 'Dins to advance to the second round of the FCS Playoffs.
Since the graduation of Roberto in 2023, however, the Paladins have struggled to effectively run the football between the tackles at times, and the '24 season would see Furman finish a season with a below 100.0 YPG rushing average for the first time in school history.
The 2024 season would see talented and powerful Jay'Quan Smith forced to miss the entire season with an injury, and to be quite honest, there was a notable talent decline at the position as a whole. Smith returned in a limited role last season but retired from football after last season with one year of eligibility remaining as a result of his injuries.
Ultimately, the Gavin Hall project at running back, which looked promising at the start, never materialized, and he would enter the transfer portal after his season was ended prematurely with an injury suffered in Furman's loss at Wofford. He would finish up the season as the Paladins' leading rusher, however, finishing the campaign with 437 yards and three TDs on 118 attempts.
That leaves sophomore running back CJ Nettles, which would be part of that big improvement for the Paladins would see big improvement in the ground attack last season even though there was only an 11-yard advantage in rushing yards per game output.
With that said, Nettles will give the Paladins a shifty, elusive option that can break the big run at any given moment. Nettles has game-breaking speed, as evidenced by his 67-yard scoring run against Mercer in a late-season home loss last season.
The 5-9, 185-lb sophomore is Furman's leading returning rusher, and the Pensacola, FL, native has a low center of gravity as a runner, making him especially hard to tackle. He is able to absorb contact as a result, maintaining his balance and can keep going. He is the kind of running back you have to make sure you wrap up when going to make the tackle.
During his freshman campaign with the Paladins a year ago, Nettles rushed for 358 yards on 85 attempts, with a pair of touchdowns, averaging 4.2 yards-per-carry. The Florida Panhandle native also showed the ability to effectively catch passes out of the backfield last season, hauling in 14 passes for 75 yards. Expect him to be used even more in that capacity this season, as he will add a playmaking ability that opposing defenses will have to account for in that capacity as well.
He enjoyed his best game of the season in Furman's 52-28 loss to No. 13 Mercer, as Nettles finished the contest rushing for 105 yards on 15 carries, which included that season-long 67-yard scoring run. Nettles not being included on the SoCon's All-Freshman Team last season was a pretty big oversight by the head coaches.
Nonetheless, expect to see the young, talented running back take that next natural step that so many other Paladin running backs do, and I think he will at least threaten to become the 18th Paladin running back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
The reason he might not get that chance won't be due to an ineffective ground attack, which has been the case for the Paladins the past two seasons, but more because he will have a talented running back alongside to share the ground-gaining responsibilities with this fall, with the addition of Charlotte transfer CJ Stokes to the Paladin backfield.
The 5-10, 200-lb Stokes hails from Columbia, S.C., and he'll have two years of eligibility remaining as a graduate student. He spent the past two seasons at both Charlotte (2024 and '25) and before that Michigan (2022 and '23). At Charlotte, Stokes logged action in eight games, including making three starts, with 182 yards and two touchdowns on 85 rush attempts.
In his freshman season at Michigan, Stokes rushed for 273 yards and a score on 55 attempts, and he owns a national title ring, as he was a member of the Wolverines' 2023 national title winning squad. Stokes offers a bit more size and a bit of a different running style than the other CJ, and he will be a nice compliment of strength and power in short-yardage situations. Prior to his collegiate career at the NCAA Division I FBS level, Stokes played his prep football at the prestigious Hammond School in Columbia, S.C., where he was the team captain as a senior and helped that program to its fourth-straight state title.
Isaiah Davis is a talented redshirt freshman running back that should see his first meaningful action in the Paladin backfield this fall, and he's expected to be in the rotation as one of the running backs that makes an impact this fall as being part of the rotation. Davis is a native of Cleveland, TN., where he rushed for 1,503 yards and 13 touchdowns for Cleveland High School (6A) during his senior campaign.
Davis has both good vision and elusiveness and earned some limited action in three games for Furman in 2025. He rushed three times for 37 yards in Furman's 32-14 win over VMI in Greenville last season.
Ben Croasdale proved to be an effective part of the rotation last season in the backfield, as the 5-11, 202-lb graduate student was an asset to the Paladin ground attack at a time last season when Furman was undermanned due to injuries. The Dallas, TX, native was able to log his most meaningful playing time of his Furman career last season, especially in a mid-season win over arch-rival The Citadel, finishing the contest by rushing for a career-high 91 yards on 19 attempts.
In Furman's road loss at Chattanooga last season, he rushed 10 times for 43 yards and a touchdown. Croasdale was also solid in Furman's 32-14, late-season win over VMI, as he finished with 14 carries for 70 yards, and in the regular-season finale at Clemson, finished with 38 yards on eight carries. All told, for the season Croasdale ended the campaign with 62 rush attempts for 320 yards and a pair of touchdowns, averaging a solid 5.2 yards-per-attempt. His yards-per-attempt average was tops among Furman ground-gainers last season.
Furman has experience and depth at running back returning in both redshirt sophomore Kevin Everhart and redshirt junior Jalil Garvin-Mingo. Garvin-Mingo was able to log his first action as a Paladin running back last fall, making his career debut in Furman's lopsided win over VMI.
Everhart was set to factor in as a pretty significant contributor to the Furman ground game this past season before sustaining a knee injury in the preseason, ending his season prematurely. Everhart sat out spring drills in order to get back to 100%, but will be ready to go in the fall.
Redshirt freshman Zach Lee has been solid in the preseason so far, showing well as a short-yardage back, as well as the ability to be a safety valve as an extra receiving option out of the backfield. Lee is a 2024 graduate of (4A) Marvin Ridge High School just outside of Charlotte, N.C. The Waxhaw, N.C., native finished off his prep career by totaling 1,371 all-purpose yards as a senior, garnering all-conference laurels.
Others that could end up contributing to the Paladin ground attack this fall include redshirt freshman Emmett Grzebin, who didn't see any game action in his first season with the program in 2025, as well as a pair of true freshmen preferred walk-ons, in Max Duckwall and Rawls Patterson.
Running Backs Analysis:
Adding a run element at the quarterback position this fall will be a big part of seeing improvement overall at running back this fall. That added versatility has traditionally made for some of the strongest ground attacks from Furman football's rich and storied history. Staying healthy will also be key for this group, as behind both CJ Stokes and CJ Nettles, as well as Ben Croasdale and Isaiah Davis, which appears to be the top four running backs rotationally, there isn't much experience. I think it could be a big year running the ball for both CJ's, and will know whether or not Furman is ready to compete for another SoCon title and FCS Playoff appearance early on in 2026, based on the performance of the ground attack in the first few games.
Others that could end up contributing to the Paladin ground attack this fall include redshirt freshman Emmett Grzebin, who didn't see any game action in his first season with the program in 2025, as well as a pair of true freshmen preferred walk-ons, in Max Duckwall and Rawls Patterson.
Running Backs Analysis:
Adding a run element at the quarterback position this fall will be a big part of seeing improvement overall at running back this fall. That added versatility has traditionally made for some of the strongest ground attacks from Furman football's rich and storied history. Staying healthy will also be key for this group, as behind both CJ Stokes and CJ Nettles, as well as Ben Croasdale and Isaiah Davis, which appears to be the top four running backs rotationally, there isn't much experience. I think it could be a big year running the ball for both CJ's, and will know whether or not Furman is ready to compete for another SoCon title and FCS Playoff appearance early on in 2026, based on the performance of the ground attack in the first few games.
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| Furman junior wide receiver Devin Hester Jr. |
Wide Receivers
Furman's wide receiving corps in 2025 rivaled the talent and depth it has had at the position in pretty much any season dating back to its first SoCon Championship winning campaign in 1978. Furman's top three receivers have either moved on in the transfer portal or they have graduated.
In fact, Furman loses five of its top seven pass-catchers from a year ago, including its top offensive weapon, in Evan James, who is set to suit up for the Iowa Hawkeyes at wideout this fall. Had James stayed at Furman, he was well on his way to perhaps becoming the best in school history, as he set a Furman freshman record with 65 catches for 796 yards and seven touchdowns.
While James offered a speed and explosiveness as a smaller wideout, the Paladins had guys with size like 6-2 Ja'Keith Hamilton and 6-2 Ethan Harris, which offered a nice compliment to James, who was the primarly long-ball threat. Hamilton has since moved on to join the East Carolina football program, but Harris returns and figures to compete for a starting opportunity for Furman this fall.
The Paladins went about adding talent from both the high school ranks, as well as the transfer portal to help supplement the pieces that do return to the fold for the upcoming season. The top returnee at wide receiver has also been one of Furman's biggest potential big-play threats from each of the two previous campaigns, in junior Devin Hester Jr.
The 5-9, 176-lb native of Athens, GA., saw action in all 12 games last season, which included making a total of five starts. Hester Jr. will be the centerpiece of Furman's wide receiving corps entering the 2026 campaign and will also act as the primary big-play threat for Furman.
Blessed with good speed and overall athleticism, the junior wideout also made an impact as a return specialist, hauling in 23 passes for 313 yards and a touchdown last season. His scoring catch came as a part of a six-reception, 82-yard performance in a 31-13 loss at Wofford last season.
Furman's wide receiving corps in 2025 rivaled the talent and depth it has had at the position in pretty much any season dating back to its first SoCon Championship winning campaign in 1978. Furman's top three receivers have either moved on in the transfer portal or they have graduated.
In fact, Furman loses five of its top seven pass-catchers from a year ago, including its top offensive weapon, in Evan James, who is set to suit up for the Iowa Hawkeyes at wideout this fall. Had James stayed at Furman, he was well on his way to perhaps becoming the best in school history, as he set a Furman freshman record with 65 catches for 796 yards and seven touchdowns.
While James offered a speed and explosiveness as a smaller wideout, the Paladins had guys with size like 6-2 Ja'Keith Hamilton and 6-2 Ethan Harris, which offered a nice compliment to James, who was the primarly long-ball threat. Hamilton has since moved on to join the East Carolina football program, but Harris returns and figures to compete for a starting opportunity for Furman this fall.
The Paladins went about adding talent from both the high school ranks, as well as the transfer portal to help supplement the pieces that do return to the fold for the upcoming season. The top returnee at wide receiver has also been one of Furman's biggest potential big-play threats from each of the two previous campaigns, in junior Devin Hester Jr.
The 5-9, 176-lb native of Athens, GA., saw action in all 12 games last season, which included making a total of five starts. Hester Jr. will be the centerpiece of Furman's wide receiving corps entering the 2026 campaign and will also act as the primary big-play threat for Furman.
Blessed with good speed and overall athleticism, the junior wideout also made an impact as a return specialist, hauling in 23 passes for 313 yards and a touchdown last season. His scoring catch came as a part of a six-reception, 82-yard performance in a 31-13 loss at Wofford last season.
Hester's performance came at a time in the 2025 season when Furman's receiving corps was severely reeling as a result of injuries, as the Paladins were without James, Hamilton, and Harris, who all missed the game with injuries.
In the season-opening, 23-21, win over William & Mary last season, Hester Jr.'s 75-yard kickoff return helped set up one of Furman's lone offensive touchdown in the win. In two seasons as a receiver with the Paladins, Hester Jr. has hauled in 33 passes for 393 yards and one touchdown (11.9 YPR), as well as averaging 23.2 yards-per-kick return last season, and that kick return average ranked Hester third in the league in that category last fall. Hester likely will step into the starting role vacated by Kerry King from last season.
Harris figures to join Hester Jr. as a starter in Furman's receiving unit this fall and the redshirt senior, who originally entered the transfer portal but ultimately opted to return, is Furman's most veteran wideout returning for the 2026 season.
In what will be his fifth season with the Paladin football program, Harris enters the campaign having hauled in 41 passes for 495 yards and one TD in his career, averaging 12.1 yards-per-catch over the course of his Furman career.
The 6-2, 194-lb native or Raleigh, N.C., easily turned in his best season as a receicver for the Paladins in 2025, as he posted 21 catches for 223 yards, averaging 10.6 yards-per-reception last season. His best outing for the Paladins came in the dramatic 36-26 win over East Tennessee State in Greenville in '25, as Harris ended up hauling in 11 passes for 81 yards. Harris followed that performance up by hauling in six passes for 95 yards the next time out in Furman's loss at Western Carolina.
Harris' lone scoring catch in his four previous seasons with the Paladins came in the regular-season finale at Mercer in 2024, as he ended the contest by hauling in a career-best 47-yard scoring catch in the 49-23 road loss to the Bears.
Set to join Hester Jr.and Harris as a potential starter in the Furman receiving corps this fall could be Clemson transfer Landyn James.
James, who was at one time a preferred walk-on at Clemson, was thrust into action in Furman's 31-13 loss at Wofford last season, and he showed he was fully capable of being a contributor as well as a reliable option in the passing attack for the Paladins.
With the Paladin receiving corps severely compromised by injury, James made his first career start with the Paladins in that very same game against the Terriers, catching four passes for 44 yards, which included a season-best 19-yard one-handed grabbed that was one of the highlight catches of the season by a Furman receiver.
Blessed with some of the best hands on the team, the 6-1, 190-lb redshirt sophomore out of Duncan, S.C., logged action in seven games a year ago, making his collegiate debut in Furman's road loss at Western Carolina. All told, James finished the season with seven catches for 74 yards.
James, who played his prep football in Greenville at JL Mann High School, started his career at Clemson during the 2023-24 academic year as a preferred walk-on, but he did not see any playing time.
A player that could see action from the outset this fall after transferring into the program is UCF transfer Dwartney Wortham, joining the Furman program in January of 2026 as a graduate student, and he will have one year of eligibility remaining with Furman. He took part in spring drills for the Paladins and saw limited action in six games across three seasons at UCF.
The 6-0, 175-lb native of LaGrange, GA., will give the Paladins a big-play threat, as he possesses excellent speed to get behind opposing secondaries.
Another transfer with a chance to make an impact for the Paladins this fall is Tennessee Tech transfer Luke Shields, who like Wortham joined the program in January in time to go through spring drills with the team, comes to Furman with the potential of being an impact player right away in the Paladin offense, as he brings with him big-time speed to the Furman receiving unit.
Shields saw action in 10 games last season with the Golden Eagles, as he hauled in six passes for 179 yards and three scores, averaging 29.8 YPR. Shields has good speed and along with Wortham, will give the Paladins a chance for the big play this fall.
In the season-opening, 23-21, win over William & Mary last season, Hester Jr.'s 75-yard kickoff return helped set up one of Furman's lone offensive touchdown in the win. In two seasons as a receiver with the Paladins, Hester Jr. has hauled in 33 passes for 393 yards and one touchdown (11.9 YPR), as well as averaging 23.2 yards-per-kick return last season, and that kick return average ranked Hester third in the league in that category last fall. Hester likely will step into the starting role vacated by Kerry King from last season.
Harris figures to join Hester Jr. as a starter in Furman's receiving unit this fall and the redshirt senior, who originally entered the transfer portal but ultimately opted to return, is Furman's most veteran wideout returning for the 2026 season.
In what will be his fifth season with the Paladin football program, Harris enters the campaign having hauled in 41 passes for 495 yards and one TD in his career, averaging 12.1 yards-per-catch over the course of his Furman career.
The 6-2, 194-lb native or Raleigh, N.C., easily turned in his best season as a receicver for the Paladins in 2025, as he posted 21 catches for 223 yards, averaging 10.6 yards-per-reception last season. His best outing for the Paladins came in the dramatic 36-26 win over East Tennessee State in Greenville in '25, as Harris ended up hauling in 11 passes for 81 yards. Harris followed that performance up by hauling in six passes for 95 yards the next time out in Furman's loss at Western Carolina.
Harris' lone scoring catch in his four previous seasons with the Paladins came in the regular-season finale at Mercer in 2024, as he ended the contest by hauling in a career-best 47-yard scoring catch in the 49-23 road loss to the Bears.
Set to join Hester Jr.and Harris as a potential starter in the Furman receiving corps this fall could be Clemson transfer Landyn James.
James, who was at one time a preferred walk-on at Clemson, was thrust into action in Furman's 31-13 loss at Wofford last season, and he showed he was fully capable of being a contributor as well as a reliable option in the passing attack for the Paladins.
With the Paladin receiving corps severely compromised by injury, James made his first career start with the Paladins in that very same game against the Terriers, catching four passes for 44 yards, which included a season-best 19-yard one-handed grabbed that was one of the highlight catches of the season by a Furman receiver.
Blessed with some of the best hands on the team, the 6-1, 190-lb redshirt sophomore out of Duncan, S.C., logged action in seven games a year ago, making his collegiate debut in Furman's road loss at Western Carolina. All told, James finished the season with seven catches for 74 yards.
James, who played his prep football in Greenville at JL Mann High School, started his career at Clemson during the 2023-24 academic year as a preferred walk-on, but he did not see any playing time.
A player that could see action from the outset this fall after transferring into the program is UCF transfer Dwartney Wortham, joining the Furman program in January of 2026 as a graduate student, and he will have one year of eligibility remaining with Furman. He took part in spring drills for the Paladins and saw limited action in six games across three seasons at UCF.
The 6-0, 175-lb native of LaGrange, GA., will give the Paladins a big-play threat, as he possesses excellent speed to get behind opposing secondaries.
Another transfer with a chance to make an impact for the Paladins this fall is Tennessee Tech transfer Luke Shields, who like Wortham joined the program in January in time to go through spring drills with the team, comes to Furman with the potential of being an impact player right away in the Paladin offense, as he brings with him big-time speed to the Furman receiving unit.
Shields saw action in 10 games last season with the Golden Eagles, as he hauled in six passes for 179 yards and three scores, averaging 29.8 YPR. Shields has good speed and along with Wortham, will give the Paladins a chance for the big play this fall.
The graduate student will have one season of eligibility remaining after playing the past two seasons at Tennessee Tech and actually started his career at Virginia Tech in 2022, redshirting his freshman season before transferring to Tennessee Tech prior to the '24 season.
Shields had scoring catches of 52 and 94 yards, respectively, last season against Chattanooga and Western Illinois, as both scoring tosses ironically coming from former Paladin quarterback Jace Wilson. All told, across two seasons at Tennessee Tech, Shields hauled in seven passes for 191 yards and three TDs.
Gram Smithson and John Holbrook are a pair of veteran wideouts returning to the fold for the Paladins, but have had injury-plagued careers during their time as Paladin wide receivers. Holbrook was set to be a significant contributor to the Furman receiving corps in 2025, however, suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason and after what was a promising end to the '24 campaign, didn't get a chance to further that momentum into last season.
He's back to 100% now and is coming off a nice spring. The 6-4, 200-lb redshirt sophomore from Bradenton, FL, gives the Paladins excellent size at wideout. During the '24 season, Holbrook logged action in all 11 games, hauling in 11 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown for the season. Holbrook made four starts during the '24 season, with his best performances coming in Furman's 52-20 home loss to Western Carolina, as he hauled in four passes for 44 yards, which included a 3-yard scoring catch against the Catamounts.
Like Holbrook, Smithson also spent much of the season on the mend and only saw limited action at receiver as a result. He appeared in three games in 2025, which mostly came on special teams. His only reception of the season came on a four-yard catch in the loss at Wofford.
Shields had scoring catches of 52 and 94 yards, respectively, last season against Chattanooga and Western Illinois, as both scoring tosses ironically coming from former Paladin quarterback Jace Wilson. All told, across two seasons at Tennessee Tech, Shields hauled in seven passes for 191 yards and three TDs.
Gram Smithson and John Holbrook are a pair of veteran wideouts returning to the fold for the Paladins, but have had injury-plagued careers during their time as Paladin wide receivers. Holbrook was set to be a significant contributor to the Furman receiving corps in 2025, however, suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason and after what was a promising end to the '24 campaign, didn't get a chance to further that momentum into last season.
He's back to 100% now and is coming off a nice spring. The 6-4, 200-lb redshirt sophomore from Bradenton, FL, gives the Paladins excellent size at wideout. During the '24 season, Holbrook logged action in all 11 games, hauling in 11 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown for the season. Holbrook made four starts during the '24 season, with his best performances coming in Furman's 52-20 home loss to Western Carolina, as he hauled in four passes for 44 yards, which included a 3-yard scoring catch against the Catamounts.
Like Holbrook, Smithson also spent much of the season on the mend and only saw limited action at receiver as a result. He appeared in three games in 2025, which mostly came on special teams. His only reception of the season came on a four-yard catch in the loss at Wofford.
In late June, the Paladins continued to make
news by getting yet another impact player on the offensive side of the football
from the transfer portal, welcoming in graduate transfer Daniel Haughton
from Dartmouth into the fold this fall.
While Furman might have lost both James and Hamilton to the transfer portal, the addition of Haughton could pay off in the immediate. The best part about is the fact that Haughton has two years of eligibility remaining.
The former Big Green standout posted a 72-yard scoring catch against Harvard, while posting six catches for 101 yards in a 39-22 loss to Cornell late in the season. He followed that up with five receptions for 62 yards in the season finale win over Brown.
He accounted for 797 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in his career, including hauling in 26 passes for 450 yards and three scores during his senior season. During his junior season, Stephens hauled in 19 passes for 347 yards and six touchdowns en route to helping Nease finish off the 2024 season with a 10-1 record.
Redshirt freshman Connor Morin logged action in four games last season, which enabled him to maintain his redshirt. The 5-9, 174-lb wideout from Centerville, VA., recorded a pair of catches for, hauling in passes against Wofford and VMI, respectively last fall.Morin was a standout at Westfield High School (6A), starring as both a defensive back and wide receiver during his time there. Morin was a two-time all-district selection, while also playing basketball, and he helped his prep program to a pair of nine-win seasons, starring on both sides of the football.
Joining Stephens as a true freshman wideout that could compete for playing time right away in 2026 is Jerrod Williams Jr., as the 6-0, 170-lb true freshman arrives at Furman from Oklahoma City, OK., where he attended Heritage Hall High School (3A), starring as both wide receiver and defensive back, while also serving on special teams as a punt return threat.
During his senior season, Williams Jr. served as a team captain, helping lead his team to an 11-2 season. During his junior campaign of 2024, Williams Jr. hauled in 28 passes for 578 yards and five scores, highlighted by a 10-catch, 224-yard performance against reigning state champion Lincoln Christian, which included a 99-yard scoring catch.
Joining Stephens as a true freshman wideout that could compete for playing time right away in 2026 is Jerrod Williams Jr., as the 6-0, 170-lb true freshman arrives at Furman from Oklahoma City, OK., where he attended Heritage Hall High School (3A), starring as both wide receiver and defensive back, while also serving on special teams as a punt return threat.
During his senior season, Williams Jr. served as a team captain, helping lead his team to an 11-2 season. During his junior campaign of 2024, Williams Jr. hauled in 28 passes for 578 yards and five scores, highlighted by a 10-catch, 224-yard performance against reigning state champion Lincoln Christian, which included a 99-yard scoring catch.
Another potential freshman to keep an eye as a part of this unit this fall is Banks Bouton--son of former Furman standout linebacker Will Bouton (1998-2001), who played quarterback in high school at Gaffney and Greenville during his prep career, but made the move to wide receiver and could see some time right away this fall because of his ability to make plays with the ball in his hands.
Jay Duncan out of Greenwood High School joins Stephens, Williams Jr., and Bouton as potentially a guy that could challenge for more time in the future, as he gets stronger and adjusts more to the college game.
Wide Receiver Analysis
The Paladins won't have the overall recognized talent and depth that it had when it entered the 2025 campaign, and if there is a drop-off at the position in 2026, it will only be a minimal one. Both Devin Hester Jr. and Ethan Harris enter the season as the go-to options in the passing attack, as well as offering two of the more experienced options for whomever starts under center for Furman this fall. Landyn James could be the surprise of the unit, as the former Clemson walk-on should crack the depth chart, while the additions of Luke Shields (Tenn. Tech) and Dwartney Wortham (UCF) will give the unit a significant boost. Shields spent time at Virginia Tech prior to finding his way to Tennessee Tech for two seasons, and he offers the type of speed that can stretch a secondary, while Wortham has similar attributes. Both are expected to challenge for significant playing time or perhaps even garner a starting role in Furman's receiving unit this fall. Shields started his college football playing career at FBS program Virginia Tech.
Furman junior tight end Jackson Pryor
Tight Ends
Furman football has a tradition at tight end that would rival any of the other nine football-playing members in the SoCon, and it's a position that year in and year out, when you glance at any preseason or postseason all-conference preseason league accolades, you almost expect to see a Furman Paladin one of those teams at the tight end spot.
Wide Receiver Analysis
The Paladins won't have the overall recognized talent and depth that it had when it entered the 2025 campaign, and if there is a drop-off at the position in 2026, it will only be a minimal one. Both Devin Hester Jr. and Ethan Harris enter the season as the go-to options in the passing attack, as well as offering two of the more experienced options for whomever starts under center for Furman this fall. Landyn James could be the surprise of the unit, as the former Clemson walk-on should crack the depth chart, while the additions of Luke Shields (Tenn. Tech) and Dwartney Wortham (UCF) will give the unit a significant boost. Shields spent time at Virginia Tech prior to finding his way to Tennessee Tech for two seasons, and he offers the type of speed that can stretch a secondary, while Wortham has similar attributes. Both are expected to challenge for significant playing time or perhaps even garner a starting role in Furman's receiving unit this fall. Shields started his college football playing career at FBS program Virginia Tech.
Furman junior tight end Jackson Pryor
Tight Ends
Furman football has a tradition at tight end that would rival any of the other nine football-playing members in the SoCon, and it's a position that year in and year out, when you glance at any preseason or postseason all-conference preseason league accolades, you almost expect to see a Furman Paladin one of those teams at the tight end spot.
Last season, Joshua Burrell was the primary option at the position along with graduate transfer Luke Clyburn, as Jackson Pryor, who had a sensational freshman campaign for the Paladins in 2024, spent most of the 2025 campaign trying to get healthy from an ankle injury. Burrell has transferred out of the Furman program, as he will be part of the Arkansas State program this fall in what will be his final season of eligibility, while Clyburn, who spent one season at Furman after transferring in from NCAA Division II Newberry, has moved on to South Florida at the FBS level.
Pryor has recovered to full health, and he will be one of the primary targets in the passing game this fall. The Paladins have traditionally tried to create mismatches in the passing game against the opposition with taller, athletic tight ends that can get down field and be a threat over the top with enough speed to offer opposing defensive coordinators with a lot to consider when it comes to matchups, and Furman's Pryor fits that description perfectly.
The 6-5, 228-lb redshirt sophomore out of Boone, N.C., by way of Watauga High School was a preseason All-SoCon pick in 2025 and was a freshman All-SoCon selection back in '24. As a result of his ankle injury last season, Pryor logged action in just four games in '25, hauling in four passes for 30 yards and a touchdown. Pryor was able to haul in what was a 24-yard scoring strike from Trey Hedden in Furman's 28-24 road win at Campbell last fall.
In his rookie campaign of two years ago, Pryor logged time in eight games and provided the game-winning scoring catch in one of Furman's three victories a couple of seasons ago. He proved to be even more reliable in late-game situations, hauling in the game-winning six-yard touchdown in a 2024 win by the Paladins at The Citadel, which was just a week after bursting onto the scene after providing a clutch performance in his first collegiate game against William & Mary a week earlier.
All told, in his rookie season for the Paladins, Pryor hauled in 16 passes for 239 yards and four touchdowns. Following his injury last season, which ultimately ended his season prematurely, Pryor was awarded a medical redshirt. With Joshua Burrell and Luke Clyburn having moved on in the transfer portal, the job heading into the fall camp is likely Pryor's alone.
Set to also factor in as potentially an impact player at the tight end position this fall for the Paladins is Charlotte transfer Nick Segarra. The 6-5, 254-lb redshirt sophomore is one of 12 transfers expected to make a notable impact this fall for Clay Hendrix's Paladins. Segarra has excellent size and hands after matriculating in from Charlotte.
Segarra was never really able to scratch the surface as a tight end with the 49ers, however, could compete for the No. 2 spot on the Paladin depth chart this fall. Segarra played his prep football at Charlotte Catholic where he garnered a prestigious Shrine Bowl for Norh Carolina as a senior.
Another candidate to play a role at the tight end spot this fall for the Paladins will be true freshman Cameron James, as the Gainesville, GA., native played his prep football for the Red Elephants at Gainesville High School (5A).
The 6-2, 210-lb native of Gainesville hauled in 26 passes for 369 yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns, proving to be a significant downfield threat. With how Furman uses their tight ends in the passing game, the transition to being a reliable target should be seamless, and James should be in line as one of a handful of freshmen that could be in line to see some significant playing time, especially for the fact that he will likely also compete for time at long snapper.
James played his first three seasons as a prep at Clover High School and was a member of the 3-5A region championship team in 2023, and posted 44 catches for 423 yards and three touchdowns during his junior campaign in 2024.
Rounding out those players likely to factor in at tight end for the Paladins in 2026 is Ball State transfer Preston Ross, who logged action in seven games as a reserve in his first season with the Paladins in 2025. The 6-6, 244-lb redshirt junior battled injuries during his time with Ball State, but should be able to push for some time on the depth chart this fall for Furman.
Tight End Analysis
Furman's tradition at the tight end spot is notable, sporting as good of a unit over its championship-laden history as any program in the Southern Conference, and that will again be a strength this season, with Jackson Pryor an all-conference caliber tight end entering the season. He will again be a big part of the passing game this fall, while Segarra, James and Ross offer capable backups.
Offensive Line
One of the areas the Paladins must see improvement this fall is along the offensive line, with youth and the struggle to make much progression in 2024 and '25 under the leadership of offensive line coach Matt McCutchan being ultimately a reason for Clay Hendrix to make a in leadership in the offensive line room, promoting Kyle Jolly to the newly opened position during the off-season.
Jolly has head coaching experience, having served as the head coach at Sickles High School in Florida in 2022 and '23, respectively, as well as turning in a two-year stint as a part of VMI's staff in 2019 and 2020-21. During his time with the Keydets, Jolly was the offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Jolly's time at VMI was highlighted by VMI's 6-2 mark in 2020-21, which helped the Keydets garner their first SoCon football crown since 1977.
Jolly's two seasons at VMI was followed by a one-year stint at Concord University where he served as the offensive line coach and helped the Mountain Lions post big improvements in scoring, rushing yards, and total offense. From there, Jolly then moved on to the high school ranks to become a head coach.
Jolly has also spent time as a graduate assistant on the offensive staff at Washington (2016-17) and at Old Dominion (2017-19) where he coached tight ends. Jolly also sports NFL experience as a player, having spent time in both the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers organizations, respectively.
He was a member of Steelers team that made an appearance in the 2011 Super Bowl XLV after capturing the AFC Championship. During his prep career, Jolly was a three-year starter for the University of North Carolina and started 38-straight games with the Tar Heels, culminating in the 2008 Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte against West Virginia.
His experience as a player, and his leadership in a variety of different roles at a nearly every level as a coach at will be huge assets his responsibility as the new offensive line coach for the Paladins this fall.
The challenge will be helping a Furman offensive line unit that has struggled to effectively get the Paladin ground game each of the past two seasons, and some of that has to do with youth, while the other part of that is having a quarterback that wasn't all that mobile. The Paladins surrendered a total of 58 combined sacks across the past couple of seasons, with that number coming down significantly last season to 23 quarterback takedowns surrendered after giving up 35 in 2024.
Those 58 sacks in the past two seasons came in 23 games, while the Paladins surrendered just 37 sacks in 26 games in 2022 and '23 combined. Furman returns just one starter from that unit of a year ago, while a total of three players return with starting experience.
There is a good mix of youth and veteran experience within the ranks, as well as some good acquisitions from both the transfer portal, helping Jolly's job of transforming this unit into being one that can see drastic improvement in '26 and in the championship mix from one that just managed to keep its head above the proverbial water in '25.
That one returning starter from a year ago is center Chris Luna. Luna will be a redshirt junior for the Paladins this fall and he earned starts in all 12 games at the center position last season, which included playing a season-high 86 snaps against VMI and posted 83 play participations against East Tennessee State last season.
The 6-3, 290-lb native of Wesley Chapel, FL, totaled 817 play participations during the 2025 season. He enters the 2025 campaign having made a total of 19 starts in his career, including 18 at the center position. Luna, who will be a candidate to win the league's prestigious Jacob's Blocking Award this fall, heads into the season as a preseason First-Team All-SoCon pick.
Set to join Luna as a starter along the Paladin offensive front could be offensive tackle Chase Gregorek who was a reserve at left tackle last season for the 'Dins, but could end up playing right tackle this fall.
The 6-4, 286-lb redshirt sophomore from Anderson, S.C., logged action in 10 of 12 games for the Paladins last season and made starts in the first three games of the season after Jaydon Collins suffered a preseason injury. Gregorek totaled 252 play participations during the 2025 season and tallied a season-high 48 play participations in Furman's 38-35 overtime loss to Presbyterian last season.
Gregorek also logged 35 snaps in the season-opener against William & Mary and played the final 32 plays in the game against Campbell. He also finished off a strong start to the season with 39 snaps against Western Carolina. Gregorek didn't see much action in his first season with the program back in 2024 as a true freshman, however, Gregorek will be a prime candidate to start at the left tackle spot this fall for the Paladins.
In line to potentially start at the right guard could be West Georgia graduate transfer Aloffaletauia Maluia, who has one year of eligibility remaining. During his time at West Georgia, the 6-2, 290-lb lineman saw action in 17 contests over the course of two seasons, while spending his first two seasons at both Northern Arizona and Utah Tech. Maluia helped the Wolves to a Top 25 finish last fall, which included an 8-3 record and wins over SoCon foes East Tennessee State and Samford. He started eight of 11 games for the Wolves last season.
Another potential starter along the offensive line for the Paladins acquired from the transfer portal will be Memphis transfer Parker Peterson, who could end up at one of the offensive guard spots. The 6-7, 306-lb graduate transfer will have two years of eligibility remaining and the Alpharetta, GA, native saw very limited action during his time with the Tigers after being a highly-regarded, three-star recruit coming out of Alpharetta High School.
Peterson could factor in at either of the guard positions this fall, while also being one of Furman's most physically imposing offensive linemen. He logged action as a backup in four games last season for the Tigers after not seeing any time in his previous two seasons at Memphis.
With Jaydon Collins and Davis Watson having both moved on from the offensive tackle spots, it will open the door for competition at both offensive tackle spots. Eli Brasher brings with him loads of experience and could be primed to step in as a starter at that left tackle, where he started the first eight games of the season before an injury forced him to miss the final four games of the campaign.
The Black Mountain, N.C., native would be penciled in to start at left tackle of the season started today. The 6-4, 288-lb totaled 538 snaps during the 2025 season and registered a season-high 83 play participations in Furman's 31-22 win over East Tennessee State last season.
Brasher is Furman's most experienced offensive lineman, as the redshirt senior began his career back in 2022, and has started a total of 18 games at left tackle over the past two seasons for the Paladins. Brasher will likely join Luna in getting some preseason all-conference consideration.
Both Bryce Rainwater and Steven O'Dell are expected to compete for starting jobs at offensive guard this fall, with Rainwater having served as the backup at right guard behind Ryan Lamb last season, while O'Dell spent last season learning behind Furman's top offensive lineman Luke Petit at left guard in 2025. With Petit now having moved on to play for Troy in his final season, O'Dell will be primed to step in and compete for a starting spot at left guard in fall camp.
The 6-7, 293-lb native of Jonesville, S.C., is one of Furman's most athletic offensive linemen heading into the 2026 season, and he saw limited action in nine of 12 games for the Paladins last fall. He also saw time in seven contests as a member of the special teams unit last season. All told, O'Dell, who will be a redshirt sophomore this fall, totaled 36 play participations for the Paladins last fall, logging a season-high nine snaps against Western Carolina.
Rainwater, a redshirt freshman from Simpsonville, S.C., saw action in four games, logging 44 snaps last season for Furman. His career debut came in Furman's 28-24 win at Campbell, as he registered time on four snaps in that contest. After participating on nine plays in Furman's loss at Western Carolina, Rainwater recorded a season-high 20 plays at Wofford and finished off the season by posting action on 11 plays in Furman's 45-10 loss at Clemson.
Noah Akinsola brings versatility and a year more experience to the offensive front for the Paladins, as the redshirt sophomore can play either offensive guard or tackle. The 6-5, 295-lb native of Frisco, TX., could be in line to see his first playing time as a part of the Furman depth chart this fall.
Edwin Gaulding and Harris Jenne were all able to their redshirt year last season, and each could compete to contribute along the offensive front this fall. Gaulding, a 6-7, 302-lb native of Bradenton, FL., has good size and intangibles, and he figures to compete for time as a reserve at offensive guard this fall. Gaulding played his prep football at the IMG Academy, where he was able to hone his skills at multiple spots along the offensive line.
Jenne, a 6-4, 260-lb product out of the Scenic City of Chattanooga, TN., also did not see game action in his first season with the Paladins and should compete for a spot on the depth chart at offensive tackle. Jenne played his prep football at 2A Silverdale Academy, where he was a two-time all-district and all-state performer, finishing his senior season as a prep with a team-best 60 pancake blocks.
Redshirt junior Hayden Garner, a 6-5, 303-lb native of Roanoke Rapids, N.C., is likely to join Gaulding in competing for a spot on the depth chart at offensive guard in preseason camp. Garner logged action on two plays last season in Furman's late-season Senior Day win over VMI. In 2024, Garner chartered a career-best 13 play participations in Furman's lopsided, 48-7, home win over Stetson.
Set to compete alongside Garner for playing time at offensive guard for the Paladins this fall will be Chase Polivchak, who retained his redshirt year and did not see any game action last season. The 6-4, 268-lb, 2025 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, FL, was a three-time all-state selection as a prep.
Furman is shaping up to have an exceptionally good situation at center, and that's because their should be quality depth at the position behind Luna. Look for both redshirt freshman Brady Smith and redshirt sophomore Jackson Gagnon figures to battle it out for the spot just behind Luna in preseason camp.
Smith, a 6-1, 289-lb, redshirt freshman out of Franklin, TN., is maybe Furman's most talented young offensive lineman. Because he logged action in only three games a year ago, Smith was able to retain his redshirt year.
That one returning starter from a year ago is center Chris Luna. Luna will be a redshirt junior for the Paladins this fall and he earned starts in all 12 games at the center position last season, which included playing a season-high 86 snaps against VMI and posted 83 play participations against East Tennessee State last season.
The 6-3, 290-lb native of Wesley Chapel, FL, totaled 817 play participations during the 2025 season. He enters the 2025 campaign having made a total of 19 starts in his career, including 18 at the center position. Luna, who will be a candidate to win the league's prestigious Jacob's Blocking Award this fall, heads into the season as a preseason First-Team All-SoCon pick.
Set to join Luna as a starter along the Paladin offensive front could be offensive tackle Chase Gregorek who was a reserve at left tackle last season for the 'Dins, but could end up playing right tackle this fall.
The 6-4, 286-lb redshirt sophomore from Anderson, S.C., logged action in 10 of 12 games for the Paladins last season and made starts in the first three games of the season after Jaydon Collins suffered a preseason injury. Gregorek totaled 252 play participations during the 2025 season and tallied a season-high 48 play participations in Furman's 38-35 overtime loss to Presbyterian last season.
Gregorek also logged 35 snaps in the season-opener against William & Mary and played the final 32 plays in the game against Campbell. He also finished off a strong start to the season with 39 snaps against Western Carolina. Gregorek didn't see much action in his first season with the program back in 2024 as a true freshman, however, Gregorek will be a prime candidate to start at the left tackle spot this fall for the Paladins.
In line to potentially start at the right guard could be West Georgia graduate transfer Aloffaletauia Maluia, who has one year of eligibility remaining. During his time at West Georgia, the 6-2, 290-lb lineman saw action in 17 contests over the course of two seasons, while spending his first two seasons at both Northern Arizona and Utah Tech. Maluia helped the Wolves to a Top 25 finish last fall, which included an 8-3 record and wins over SoCon foes East Tennessee State and Samford. He started eight of 11 games for the Wolves last season.
Another potential starter along the offensive line for the Paladins acquired from the transfer portal will be Memphis transfer Parker Peterson, who could end up at one of the offensive guard spots. The 6-7, 306-lb graduate transfer will have two years of eligibility remaining and the Alpharetta, GA, native saw very limited action during his time with the Tigers after being a highly-regarded, three-star recruit coming out of Alpharetta High School.
Peterson could factor in at either of the guard positions this fall, while also being one of Furman's most physically imposing offensive linemen. He logged action as a backup in four games last season for the Tigers after not seeing any time in his previous two seasons at Memphis.
With Jaydon Collins and Davis Watson having both moved on from the offensive tackle spots, it will open the door for competition at both offensive tackle spots. Eli Brasher brings with him loads of experience and could be primed to step in as a starter at that left tackle, where he started the first eight games of the season before an injury forced him to miss the final four games of the campaign.
The Black Mountain, N.C., native would be penciled in to start at left tackle of the season started today. The 6-4, 288-lb totaled 538 snaps during the 2025 season and registered a season-high 83 play participations in Furman's 31-22 win over East Tennessee State last season.
Brasher is Furman's most experienced offensive lineman, as the redshirt senior began his career back in 2022, and has started a total of 18 games at left tackle over the past two seasons for the Paladins. Brasher will likely join Luna in getting some preseason all-conference consideration.
Both Bryce Rainwater and Steven O'Dell are expected to compete for starting jobs at offensive guard this fall, with Rainwater having served as the backup at right guard behind Ryan Lamb last season, while O'Dell spent last season learning behind Furman's top offensive lineman Luke Petit at left guard in 2025. With Petit now having moved on to play for Troy in his final season, O'Dell will be primed to step in and compete for a starting spot at left guard in fall camp.
The 6-7, 293-lb native of Jonesville, S.C., is one of Furman's most athletic offensive linemen heading into the 2026 season, and he saw limited action in nine of 12 games for the Paladins last fall. He also saw time in seven contests as a member of the special teams unit last season. All told, O'Dell, who will be a redshirt sophomore this fall, totaled 36 play participations for the Paladins last fall, logging a season-high nine snaps against Western Carolina.
Rainwater, a redshirt freshman from Simpsonville, S.C., saw action in four games, logging 44 snaps last season for Furman. His career debut came in Furman's 28-24 win at Campbell, as he registered time on four snaps in that contest. After participating on nine plays in Furman's loss at Western Carolina, Rainwater recorded a season-high 20 plays at Wofford and finished off the season by posting action on 11 plays in Furman's 45-10 loss at Clemson.
Noah Akinsola brings versatility and a year more experience to the offensive front for the Paladins, as the redshirt sophomore can play either offensive guard or tackle. The 6-5, 295-lb native of Frisco, TX., could be in line to see his first playing time as a part of the Furman depth chart this fall.
Edwin Gaulding and Harris Jenne were all able to their redshirt year last season, and each could compete to contribute along the offensive front this fall. Gaulding, a 6-7, 302-lb native of Bradenton, FL., has good size and intangibles, and he figures to compete for time as a reserve at offensive guard this fall. Gaulding played his prep football at the IMG Academy, where he was able to hone his skills at multiple spots along the offensive line.
Jenne, a 6-4, 260-lb product out of the Scenic City of Chattanooga, TN., also did not see game action in his first season with the Paladins and should compete for a spot on the depth chart at offensive tackle. Jenne played his prep football at 2A Silverdale Academy, where he was a two-time all-district and all-state performer, finishing his senior season as a prep with a team-best 60 pancake blocks.
Redshirt junior Hayden Garner, a 6-5, 303-lb native of Roanoke Rapids, N.C., is likely to join Gaulding in competing for a spot on the depth chart at offensive guard in preseason camp. Garner logged action on two plays last season in Furman's late-season Senior Day win over VMI. In 2024, Garner chartered a career-best 13 play participations in Furman's lopsided, 48-7, home win over Stetson.
Set to compete alongside Garner for playing time at offensive guard for the Paladins this fall will be Chase Polivchak, who retained his redshirt year and did not see any game action last season. The 6-4, 268-lb, 2025 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, FL, was a three-time all-state selection as a prep.
Furman is shaping up to have an exceptionally good situation at center, and that's because their should be quality depth at the position behind Luna. Look for both redshirt freshman Brady Smith and redshirt sophomore Jackson Gagnon figures to battle it out for the spot just behind Luna in preseason camp.
Smith, a 6-1, 289-lb, redshirt freshman out of Franklin, TN., is maybe Furman's most talented young offensive lineman. Because he logged action in only three games a year ago, Smith was able to retain his redshirt year.
Smith logged action in a reserve, role at center in games against Western Carolina and VMI, as well as in the regular-season finale at Clemson. He made his career debut against Western Carolina in what was a 52-7 road loss to the Catamounts, as he garnered time on nine plays late in the lopsided loss to the Catamounts. He also was able to log seven play participations in Furman's Senior Day, 32-14, home win over VMI. Smith finished out the season by participating on nine plays in Furman's 45-10 loss at Clemson.
Gagnon is a 6-3, 266-lb, product of Charlotte, N.C., by way of Charlotte Catholic. The redshirt sophomore has seen sparse spot duty in his first two seasons as a Paladin but could play a more prominent role this fall. The two-time SoCon All-Academic honoree was able to log his first-career action for the Paladins last season, making his Furman debut in the 32-14 win over VMI, as he logged action on two plays.
There are several other true freshmen that figure to compete to see some time in roles this fall,and are talented enough to provide depth right away if called upon to do so. One of those rookie newcomers that the coaching staff is particularly excited about is Wren High School product Cooper Jones.
The 6-4, 280-lb product of Williamston, S.C., signed with the Paladins late last October, and comes from a Golden Hurricanes program where he logged a total of 36 starts over three seasons, ans that included seeing him make an impressive 115 knockdown blocks in his career. Jones finished his prep career as a two-time all-district selection and was a multi-sport athlete during his time at Wren, also playing both basketball and baseball.
At least four more freshmen will be on the roster this fall, with all four likely to redshirt their first season in Greenville. Andrew Banaghan (Northwest Guilford HS/Stokesdale, N.C.), Tim Hyrbu (West Forsyth HS/Cumming, GA), Ayann Mirza (West Springfield HS/Springfield, VA), and Jaxon Corey (Calgary Christian HS/Trinity, FL) round out those competing for a spot in the pecking order along the offensive front this fall.
Offensive Line Analysis
Furman has long built its strong ground game tradition on excellent offensive line play, and that is true for any program that has a great history of running backs.
However, the OL is so much more than just running the football, though that's what any casual fan of the game will tell you. What they kind of mean is that the running game sets the tone for everything you do collectively as an offensive unit, and in each of the previous two seasons, Furman's anemic ground game has a direct correlation with the team's struggles to score points, as well the Paladins' falling into a pattern of becoming of one-dimensional each of the past two seasons. It's why having a running quarterback solves so many ills in so many different areas in the modern game.
One glance at Furman's two-deep last season and a guess at the potential two-deep this season will reveal that the Paladins might be even younger in the trenches this fall, and that's not such a bad thing.
It's obvious that guys like all-conference candidates like center Chris Luna and offensive tackle Eli Brasher will provide the leadership for this unit in 2026, and the good news is that portal additions Parker Peterson and Aloffaletauia Maluia could be immediate impact players when plugged in this fall. The emergence and progression of Steven O'Dell, Bryce Rainwater and Brady Smith as a part of the backbone of this offensive front is an absolute must if this offensive unit and team as whole hopes to accomplish the lofty goals it has set for itself in 2026.
One glance at Furman's two-deep last season and a guess at the potential two-deep this season will reveal that the Paladins might be even younger in the trenches this fall, and that's not such a bad thing.
It's obvious that guys like all-conference candidates like center Chris Luna and offensive tackle Eli Brasher will provide the leadership for this unit in 2026, and the good news is that portal additions Parker Peterson and Aloffaletauia Maluia could be immediate impact players when plugged in this fall. The emergence and progression of Steven O'Dell, Bryce Rainwater and Brady Smith as a part of the backbone of this offensive front is an absolute must if this offensive unit and team as whole hopes to accomplish the lofty goals it has set for itself in 2026.
Defensive Overview
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| Furman redshirt junior defensive end Joshua Stoneking |
Like the offensive side of the ball, Furman's struggles on the defensive side of the ball each of the past two campaigns can't be blamed on one position group or individual player, however, some areas on the defensive side of the ball appear to have had trouble recovering the form of that 2023 unit, which is considered by many as one of the top five defensive units in program history.
Last season, it was apparent where the improvements were made on the defensive side of the ball, and with a dominant defensive line and player, the Paladins have a great place to build from in 2026. That building project started last season in the form of breakout performer and edge defensive end Joshua Stoneking, where he led the nation in both sacks (14.5) and tackles-for-loss (23.0).
Stoneking now heads into his redshirt junior campaign as perhaps the frontrunner for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is given to the top defensive player in FCS Football during the lead-up to the FCS National Title game each season. Stoneking was a finalist for that award last season, finishing second in the voting behind Buck Buchanan Award winner Andrew Zock out of Mercer.
With that said, Stoneking's importance to Furman's defense last season can't be emphasized enough, as his ability not only as a pass-rushing presence off the edge was not the only asset that he brought to the Paladin defense.
Last season, it was apparent where the improvements were made on the defensive side of the ball, and with a dominant defensive line and player, the Paladins have a great place to build from in 2026. That building project started last season in the form of breakout performer and edge defensive end Joshua Stoneking, where he led the nation in both sacks (14.5) and tackles-for-loss (23.0).
Stoneking now heads into his redshirt junior campaign as perhaps the frontrunner for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is given to the top defensive player in FCS Football during the lead-up to the FCS National Title game each season. Stoneking was a finalist for that award last season, finishing second in the voting behind Buck Buchanan Award winner Andrew Zock out of Mercer.
With that said, Stoneking's importance to Furman's defense last season can't be emphasized enough, as his ability not only as a pass-rushing presence off the edge was not the only asset that he brought to the Paladin defense.
Stoneking's presence alone occupied blockers, freeing up linebackers and safeties to come up and make plays, while his 79 tackles, which ranked second on the team a year ago, showed his unique ability to stop plays at the point of attack. In many ways, Stoneking's 79 total tackles standout as much as his ability as a pass-rusher. It shows he is a complete player and an absolute problem to scheme around for opposing offenses.
The Paladins enter the 2026 season coming off a campaign that saw major improvements within the front seven, which was of course spearheaded by Stoneking. Injury issues at linebacker prevented inside Ryan Earl linebacker from being able to build off what was a strong 2024 season, which saw him garner SoCon All-Freshman Team honors.
Earl's return highlights a solid unit at linebacker heading into the fall of 2026, with others like Raleigh Herbert and Tanner Schuck also being significant returnees to what should be a versatile unit. The emergence of a guy like promising young talent like Caleb Ellison could be another exciting development to watch for the unit this fall.
Furman's problems defensively, though, were most of the time once again a result of youth in the secondary, and in particular, cornerback, while the Paladins were vastly improved at both safety spots last season after experiencing some pretty significant struggles in 2024, it turned out to be one of the strongest units on the defensive side of the ball last season, thanks to the play of Taylen Blaylock, who was a game-changer for the Paladin defense in 2025.
If it wasn't Stoneking making the play for the Paladin defense in '25, it was usually Blaylock. His football instincts and his ability to make plays against the run, as well as read opposing offensive schemes were a big reason for Furman's overall improvement in the secondary last fall.
While Blaylock will no doubt be missed at safety, the emergence of young Caleb Easterling at safety in spare duty last season has Paladin fans excited about 2026 on the back end of the defensive unit.
Easterling, who was a redshirt freshman last fall, was already likely one of the top players on the defensive side of the football in 2025, but there was no chance the coaching staff was going to blow his redshirt by playing him in more games than the 25.0% true freshman players are allotted in order to maintain their redshirt.
Easterling will be part of a safeties room that will mix in some veteran leadership this fall, with both AK Burrell and Billy Lewis back at safety, helping solidify that unit once again this season, and that position in the secondary, at least, figures to be a strength for the Paladins.
In 2025, Furman finished the season ranking 100th in total defense (414.8 YPG), tied for 93rd in scoring defense (31.0 PPG), 86th in rushing defense (175.2 YPG) and 92nd in passing yards allowed per game (239.5 YPG).
One of the luxuries the Paladins will have on the defensive side of the ball in keeping the defensive coordinator in-house, with the promotion of Byers from co-Defensive coordinator to defensive coordinator is it will allow the Paladins to maintain their same 4-2-5 defensive scheme, which they have excelled in for the better part of a decade now.
Defensive Line
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| Furman redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Garrison Butler |
Furman's defensive line tradition is one that has a long, storied past of great players down through the decades. When thinking back over the past 40 years or so, some truly great players like nose tackle Allen Edwards, defensive ends Kelly Fletcher and Ryan Livezy are just a few of the greats that come to mind when thinking back to the 1980s and 90s, while the ever-versatile guys like Roy Ravenell, Wallace Artis and more recently Matt Sochovka are just some of the talented performers that have highlighted the unit in the first quarter half of the century for the Paladins.
Over the past four seasons, the Paladin defensive line has more often than not, been the strength of the Paladin defense. Even when Furman struggled mightily two years ago, the front seven was largely one of the strengths of the entire during that trying season. Had it not been for a season-ending injury to Xavier Stephens, who was leading the SoCon in sacks in that particular season.
Over the past four seasons, the Paladin defensive line has more often than not, been the strength of the Paladin defense. Even when Furman struggled mightily two years ago, the front seven was largely one of the strengths of the entire during that trying season. Had it not been for a season-ending injury to Xavier Stephens, who was leading the SoCon in sacks in that particular season.
Since the start of the 2022 season, the Paladins have a total of 115 sacks, with no fewer than 20 quarterback takedowns, with the lowest total coming during the 2024 season, when the Paladins recorded only 20 sacks the entire season.
Furman's prowess along its defensive line this fall obviously starts with defensive end Joshua Stoneking, who could be primed for another run at the Buck Buchanan award in 2026, but he will be very much more a known danger for opposing offensive coordinators coming into the season, and that might force teams to scheme plays around him. His numbers might end up lower this season more than in 2025, but his effect on individual gameplans and schemes by opposing offensive coordinators is massive.
The Raleigh, N.C., native was in his first full season as a starter along the Furman defensive front last season, and he was able to land first-team All-America honors from the AFCA, Associated Press, Walter Camp, FCS ADA, Football Central and Phil Steele after his 2025 season, which saw him total 79 tackles, 23 tackles-for-loss (led nation in '25), 14.5 sacks (led nation in '25), forced two fumbles and blocked a kick.
His 14.5 sacks were tied for the fourth-most in Furman history, and his sacks total accounted for 56% of the team's 26 total sacks last season. His 23 tackles behind the line of scrimmage accounted for 33% of the team's sacks last fall. He was named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week a league-high three times, totaling multi-sack performances in five of Furman's 12 games last season.
If you were to compare Stoneking's strengths to any other defensive end in Furman history, it would most likely be another player like Bryan Dailer, who starred for the Paladins in the late 1990s, winning the SoCon's Defensive Player of the Year in 1997, and posted a SoCon record seven sacks in Furman's regular-season finale win at Chattanooga. Stoneking has a similar dynamic as a player, as his sheer strength and power on a bull rush is enough to make him a problem for any offensive tackle that you line up in front of him in the Southern Conference.
He'll likely find himself double-teammed once again this season, and it was one of Furman's main issues last season, which was that it had a hard time getting others to step up and make plays and get pressure on opposing quarterbacks when opponents were able to somewhat neutralize him with multiple blockers last season. It will be hard to do that again this season, however, as on paper, the Paladins have added from the portal and developed the talent they already have within the ranks.
Stoneking is a complete player, and not just a dangerous pass-rusher, but an all-around great defender. He has a great understanding of scheme and on field IQ and he will once again be a clear-cut leader on the defensive side of the ball next season. Late in the season, Stoneking produced a pair double-digit tackle performances against Chattanooga and Mercer, posting 10 tackles in both of those games.
The odds-on favorite to serve as the backup behind Stoneking at defensive end this fall is Malaki Dobbins, who will be entering his redshirt sophomore campaign for the Paladins, and while Dobbins had his moments last season, he had trouble maintaining the strong play he displayed early in the season, with strong performances in early non-conference wins over William & Mary and Campbell.
He saw action in all 12 games as a reserve in 2025, finishing the campaign with 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and half-a-sack. He had a pair of tackles in Furman's home loss to Mercer, and recorded his half-a-sack in the key win at Campbell.
One of the real x-factors on the defensive side of the ball for the Paladins out of the transfer portal in the upcoming season is Wingate transfer defensive end Eli Lipscomb, who will play defensive end and push for extensive time this fall.
Lipscomb is the second transfer to come from Wingate to the Paladin program, and he transferred into the Furman program this past January and will have three years of eligibility remaining. The other player to transfer into Furman from Wingate in recent seasons is Sirod Cook, who would go on to be an impact performer on that '23 defense, as that Paladin defensive line would go down as one of the very best in school history, and Hendrix is hoping Lipscomb can have a similar impact with this unit this fall.
Lipscomb was productive in his one season at Lipscomb, as he finished out his rookie campaign with 33 tackles, 9.5 tackles-for-loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
The 6-1, 228-lb native of Kings Mountain, N.C., will likely make an impact right away along the defensive line for the Paladins this fall, whether that be as a backup to Stoneking at defensive end, or perhaps even being in the running to be a factor at 'Bandit'.
Furman's prowess along its defensive line this fall obviously starts with defensive end Joshua Stoneking, who could be primed for another run at the Buck Buchanan award in 2026, but he will be very much more a known danger for opposing offensive coordinators coming into the season, and that might force teams to scheme plays around him. His numbers might end up lower this season more than in 2025, but his effect on individual gameplans and schemes by opposing offensive coordinators is massive.
The Raleigh, N.C., native was in his first full season as a starter along the Furman defensive front last season, and he was able to land first-team All-America honors from the AFCA, Associated Press, Walter Camp, FCS ADA, Football Central and Phil Steele after his 2025 season, which saw him total 79 tackles, 23 tackles-for-loss (led nation in '25), 14.5 sacks (led nation in '25), forced two fumbles and blocked a kick.
His 14.5 sacks were tied for the fourth-most in Furman history, and his sacks total accounted for 56% of the team's 26 total sacks last season. His 23 tackles behind the line of scrimmage accounted for 33% of the team's sacks last fall. He was named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week a league-high three times, totaling multi-sack performances in five of Furman's 12 games last season.
If you were to compare Stoneking's strengths to any other defensive end in Furman history, it would most likely be another player like Bryan Dailer, who starred for the Paladins in the late 1990s, winning the SoCon's Defensive Player of the Year in 1997, and posted a SoCon record seven sacks in Furman's regular-season finale win at Chattanooga. Stoneking has a similar dynamic as a player, as his sheer strength and power on a bull rush is enough to make him a problem for any offensive tackle that you line up in front of him in the Southern Conference.
He'll likely find himself double-teammed once again this season, and it was one of Furman's main issues last season, which was that it had a hard time getting others to step up and make plays and get pressure on opposing quarterbacks when opponents were able to somewhat neutralize him with multiple blockers last season. It will be hard to do that again this season, however, as on paper, the Paladins have added from the portal and developed the talent they already have within the ranks.
Stoneking is a complete player, and not just a dangerous pass-rusher, but an all-around great defender. He has a great understanding of scheme and on field IQ and he will once again be a clear-cut leader on the defensive side of the ball next season. Late in the season, Stoneking produced a pair double-digit tackle performances against Chattanooga and Mercer, posting 10 tackles in both of those games.
The odds-on favorite to serve as the backup behind Stoneking at defensive end this fall is Malaki Dobbins, who will be entering his redshirt sophomore campaign for the Paladins, and while Dobbins had his moments last season, he had trouble maintaining the strong play he displayed early in the season, with strong performances in early non-conference wins over William & Mary and Campbell.
He saw action in all 12 games as a reserve in 2025, finishing the campaign with 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and half-a-sack. He had a pair of tackles in Furman's home loss to Mercer, and recorded his half-a-sack in the key win at Campbell.
One of the real x-factors on the defensive side of the ball for the Paladins out of the transfer portal in the upcoming season is Wingate transfer defensive end Eli Lipscomb, who will play defensive end and push for extensive time this fall.
Lipscomb is the second transfer to come from Wingate to the Paladin program, and he transferred into the Furman program this past January and will have three years of eligibility remaining. The other player to transfer into Furman from Wingate in recent seasons is Sirod Cook, who would go on to be an impact performer on that '23 defense, as that Paladin defensive line would go down as one of the very best in school history, and Hendrix is hoping Lipscomb can have a similar impact with this unit this fall.
Lipscomb was productive in his one season at Lipscomb, as he finished out his rookie campaign with 33 tackles, 9.5 tackles-for-loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
The 6-1, 228-lb native of Kings Mountain, N.C., will likely make an impact right away along the defensive line for the Paladins this fall, whether that be as a backup to Stoneking at defensive end, or perhaps even being in the running to be a factor at 'Bandit'.
He had several strong performances last season for the Bulldogs, with the best of those coming against Catawba in a 49-28 win, as he finished the contest with eight tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles. So highly respected was Lipscomb in the preseason that he garnered preseason Second-Team All-SoCon plaudits by the league's head coaches.
One of the younger players expected to make an impact right away at defensive end this fall is Robert Lange Jr. out of Greensboro, N.C., by way of Northwest Guilford High School. The 6-4, 230-lb defensive end is going to play a lot in his rookie season. The 2026 graduate of Northwest Guilford HS (4A) where he played defensive end, finishing his career with 216 tackles, 53 tackles-for-loss and 21 sacks.
Lange garnered all-area, all-region, and all-conference honors following his senior season, finishing his final season with 108 tackles, 17 tackles-for-loss and 10 sacks in his final campaign as a prep.
One of the younger players expected to make an impact right away at defensive end this fall is Robert Lange Jr. out of Greensboro, N.C., by way of Northwest Guilford High School. The 6-4, 230-lb defensive end is going to play a lot in his rookie season. The 2026 graduate of Northwest Guilford HS (4A) where he played defensive end, finishing his career with 216 tackles, 53 tackles-for-loss and 21 sacks.
Lange garnered all-area, all-region, and all-conference honors following his senior season, finishing his final season with 108 tackles, 17 tackles-for-loss and 10 sacks in his final campaign as a prep.
Set to start at the ‘Bandit’ defensive end spot
this fall will be graduate senior Tanner Schuck, who will have the
luxury of having played in 23 contests, with 11 starts over the past couple of
seasons, including logging 10 starts for the Paladins last season. He finished
the 2025 campaign with 41 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss one sack last fall
across 12 total games. Schuck’s experience and know-how up front will obviously
be beneficial.
A player that could be a type of the changeup guy behind Schuck at ‘Bandit’ this fall is Trevor Short. Short, who is one of the most athletic and versatile players in the unit, is still very much growing towards the incredibly high ceiling he came in with. His athleticism and overall potential as a playmaker in this unit could offer the Paladins a nice compliment to Schuck this fall, and both Schuck and Short are two very different players playing the same position, with their two strengths being power and athleticism.
Maddox Dykeman, who ended up taking a redshirt last season and did not see any game action, should be in the mix to see time as an edge rusher this fall. The 6-7, 273-lb native of Peachtree City, GA., is a 2025 graduate of McIntosh High School (5A) where he was a three-year starter at defensive end, finishing out his career in impressive fashion, totaling 127 tackles, 18 tackles-for-loss and 12 sacks in his career, while also record a 65-yard "scoop and score" in his junior season against Fayette County. Griffin Farmery and Mason Kelly round out the options off the edge for the Paladins.
While Furman has been strong at defensive end in its recent run of success, dating back to 2022, it's been the play at the defensive line's two interior positions that has been the among the most talented periods for the two spots in school history. It should be a strength for the Paladins once again this fall, with veterans like Ty Kauserud, Caldwell Bussey and Demetrius Baldwin all returning to the unit for the 2026 season.
It's really no secret that Kauserud has had trouble staying healthy throughout his Furman career, but when he has managed to maintain his health, he's been solid playing nose guard for the Paladins. The 6-4, 292-lb redshirt sophomore out of Apex, N.C., comes off a 2025 season, which saw him step into the starting role at nose tackle before being initially sidelined in the preseason with a turf toe injury.
That nagging injury would end up significantly impacting the type of season that Kauserud would end up having, limiting his availability to just four games in a 12-game slate last fall. He would end up logging just one start during the 2025 season, which wouldn't come until the regular-season home finale against VMI.
In limited playing time, Kauserud produced a pair of tackles in Furman's dramatic road win at Campbell and ended up posting three stops against Mercer. He also finished with a tackle in the loss at Chattanooga and had a pair of stops in Furman's 32-14 win over VMI to close out the home slate.
Kauserud, who came out of the spring 100% healthy, will figure to be the odds-on favorite to be the starter at nose guard this fall when the Paladins first take the field this season on Aug. 27 against Anderson.
Joining inside at defensive tackle as the other Paladin starter on the interior defensive line could be Demetrius Baldwin, who comes off a solid redshirt freshman campaign for the Paladins in 2025.
It's really no secret that Kauserud has had trouble staying healthy throughout his Furman career, but when he has managed to maintain his health, he's been solid playing nose guard for the Paladins. The 6-4, 292-lb redshirt sophomore out of Apex, N.C., comes off a 2025 season, which saw him step into the starting role at nose tackle before being initially sidelined in the preseason with a turf toe injury.
That nagging injury would end up significantly impacting the type of season that Kauserud would end up having, limiting his availability to just four games in a 12-game slate last fall. He would end up logging just one start during the 2025 season, which wouldn't come until the regular-season home finale against VMI.
In limited playing time, Kauserud produced a pair of tackles in Furman's dramatic road win at Campbell and ended up posting three stops against Mercer. He also finished with a tackle in the loss at Chattanooga and had a pair of stops in Furman's 32-14 win over VMI to close out the home slate.
Kauserud, who came out of the spring 100% healthy, will figure to be the odds-on favorite to be the starter at nose guard this fall when the Paladins first take the field this season on Aug. 27 against Anderson.
Joining inside at defensive tackle as the other Paladin starter on the interior defensive line could be Demetrius Baldwin, who comes off a solid redshirt freshman campaign for the Paladins in 2025.
The 6-1, 278-lb native Waycross, GA., captured the starting job along the defensive line after turning in what was an impressive spring in 2025, and that would end up seeing Baldwin log starts in 11 out of 12 games last season for the Paladins, and would log action in all 12 games for the Paladins last fall, garnering SoCon All-Freshman Team honors in the process.
Baldwin would cap his first season or meaningful playing time by contributing 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack. His best performance of the 2025 season would come in Furman's 31-13 loss at Wofford, as he ended up posting a season-high seven stops in the Paladins' loss to its oldest gridiron rival.
His sack helped key one of the best defensive line performances of the season a few weeks earlier, as the Paladins downed East Tennessee State, 31-22, in Greenville. Baldwin also recorded a pair of tackles and forced a fumble in Furman's late-September, 31-13, win at Samford.
Set to provide the depth along the defensive interior this fall could be veteran defensive tackle Caldwell Bussey. The `6-3, 290-lb native of Hoover, AL., garnered playing time in 10 out of 12 games for the Paladins last season as a defensive tackle and nose guard.
Baldwin would cap his first season or meaningful playing time by contributing 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack. His best performance of the 2025 season would come in Furman's 31-13 loss at Wofford, as he ended up posting a season-high seven stops in the Paladins' loss to its oldest gridiron rival.
His sack helped key one of the best defensive line performances of the season a few weeks earlier, as the Paladins downed East Tennessee State, 31-22, in Greenville. Baldwin also recorded a pair of tackles and forced a fumble in Furman's late-September, 31-13, win at Samford.
Set to provide the depth along the defensive interior this fall could be veteran defensive tackle Caldwell Bussey. The `6-3, 290-lb native of Hoover, AL., garnered playing time in 10 out of 12 games for the Paladins last season as a defensive tackle and nose guard.
Bussey would sit out Furman final two games of the season against both VMI and at Clemson after suffering a scary head injury on a kick return late in Furman's 45-28 loss at Chattanooga last fall, but came out of the spring 100% healthy and ready to return to action in 2026, and it should be one that will see him play a key leadership role along the defensive front.
During the spring, Bussey made the move to nose tackle and even played some nose last season for the Paladins. He is a good combination of power and speed, which could cause havoc for opposing running backs and he will likely end up platooning at nose guard this fall along with Kauserud, Hernandez and Jonny Okolo.
Bussey would finish out the 2025 season with 24 tackles and a sack. He would record his best performance of the season in what was a strong overall performance for the Paladin defensive line in the 31-22 victory over East Tennessee State, registering seven stops against the Bucs. He also posted five tackles in the 39-38 overtime loss to Presbyterian and totaled four stops in the 24-14 win over The Citadel. Bussey's lone sack of the 2025 season would come in Furman's demonstrative 31-13 win at Samford. Bussey will look to platoon the nose tackle spot with
Another player that should figure prominently in the mix at defensive tackle this fall for Furman is redshirt sophomore Garrison Butler, who performed well in his first season with the Paladin football program after transferring in from Appalachian State.
Butler, a 6-1, 262-lb native of Jacksonville, FL, garnered some meaningful snaps as part of Furman's defensive tackle rotation during his inaugural season with the program. Butler finished the 2025 season by logging snaps in all 12 contests, finishing the campaign with 18 tackles, two-tackles-for-loss, and a sack. Butler also batted a pass for an INT in Furman's 31-13 triumph at Samford, while posting three tackles and a sack in Furman's SoCon finale triumph over VMI.
Butler also provided heavy pressure on ETSU signal-caller Jacolby Criswell in Furman's 31-22 home win over the Bucs, as his pressure allowed Jordan Miller to pick the pass from the air and race 96 yards the other way for a Furman pick-six to clinch the win in emphatic fashion. No doubt Butler will once again play a prominent role at defensive tackle once again this fall.
Both Hernandez and Okolo will round out the defensive line, where they will both serve as backups at the nose guard spot. Hernandez's ability to be a physically imposing presence in the trenches, especially with his outstanding overall size.
Bussey would finish out the 2025 season with 24 tackles and a sack. He would record his best performance of the season in what was a strong overall performance for the Paladin defensive line in the 31-22 victory over East Tennessee State, registering seven stops against the Bucs. He also posted five tackles in the 39-38 overtime loss to Presbyterian and totaled four stops in the 24-14 win over The Citadel. Bussey's lone sack of the 2025 season would come in Furman's demonstrative 31-13 win at Samford. Bussey will look to platoon the nose tackle spot with
Another player that should figure prominently in the mix at defensive tackle this fall for Furman is redshirt sophomore Garrison Butler, who performed well in his first season with the Paladin football program after transferring in from Appalachian State.
Butler, a 6-1, 262-lb native of Jacksonville, FL, garnered some meaningful snaps as part of Furman's defensive tackle rotation during his inaugural season with the program. Butler finished the 2025 season by logging snaps in all 12 contests, finishing the campaign with 18 tackles, two-tackles-for-loss, and a sack. Butler also batted a pass for an INT in Furman's 31-13 triumph at Samford, while posting three tackles and a sack in Furman's SoCon finale triumph over VMI.
Butler also provided heavy pressure on ETSU signal-caller Jacolby Criswell in Furman's 31-22 home win over the Bucs, as his pressure allowed Jordan Miller to pick the pass from the air and race 96 yards the other way for a Furman pick-six to clinch the win in emphatic fashion. No doubt Butler will once again play a prominent role at defensive tackle once again this fall.
Both Hernandez and Okolo will round out the defensive line, where they will both serve as backups at the nose guard spot. Hernandez's ability to be a physically imposing presence in the trenches, especially with his outstanding overall size.
The 6-4, 316-lb native of Fort Worth, TX., Hernandez saw some significant playing time as a reserve in his redshirt sophomore season for the Paladins last season, recording 10 tackles and a pass breakup, and he recorded tackles in each of Furman's first five games last season, which included a pair of stops in Furman's 31-22 win over East Tennessee State.
Okolo is a redshirt freshman out of Woodward Academy in Atlanta. The College Park, GA., native is a promising young talent who has a chance to be an impactful part of this rotation in the 2026 football season. Like Hernandez, Okolo offers a player that is a physically imposing presence at the position, as he enters the preseason at just over 300 lbs. Okolo garnered playing time in the final two games of the season against both VMI and Clemson.
Rounding out the potential challengers for a spot on the depth chart is redshirt sophomore Bruce Knauber. The 6-1, 298-lb native of Greenville, S.C., sat out the entire 2025 season with an injury, but showed some promise upon his arrival from nearby Greenville High School as a true freshman back in 2024.
Okolo is a redshirt freshman out of Woodward Academy in Atlanta. The College Park, GA., native is a promising young talent who has a chance to be an impactful part of this rotation in the 2026 football season. Like Hernandez, Okolo offers a player that is a physically imposing presence at the position, as he enters the preseason at just over 300 lbs. Okolo garnered playing time in the final two games of the season against both VMI and Clemson.
Rounding out the potential challengers for a spot on the depth chart is redshirt sophomore Bruce Knauber. The 6-1, 298-lb native of Greenville, S.C., sat out the entire 2025 season with an injury, but showed some promise upon his arrival from nearby Greenville High School as a true freshman back in 2024.
Defensive Line Analysis
Once again, the defensive line, led by Joshua Stoneking, should be one of the strongest positions on either side of the football for the Paladins. One thing is for certain in the upcoming season for the Paladins and that is Stoneking will need some vital help in the pass-rush up from in order to keep teams from just double-teaming him each game. I feel like there will be a few to emerge this season, which could see the Paladin defensive front look even stronger this season than it was last fall. Nose guard will be a key for the 'Dins this season, as it usually is. If Ty Kauserud can manage to stay healthy, he has all-conference potential. I expect Garrison Butler, Eli Lipscomb and Demetrius Baldwin should all play significant roles along the defensive line for Furman this fall as well.
Linebackers
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| Furman's Ryan Earl (No. 32) missed most of the '25 season after being a preseason all-conference pick |
Throughout the decades, Furman has posted some of the most decorated linebackers in the history of the Southern Conference, with the names like those of Jeff Blankenship, Orlando Ruff, Kota Suttle and Mike Killian echoing down through the decades.
Unfortunately, the Paladins saw the injury bug bite early at linebacker last season, losing inside linebacker and preseason All-SoCon pick Ryan Earl to what unfortunately turned out to be a season-ending injury. Earl is back to lead the unit once again this fall, and this season, he is back looking to deliver on what he missed out on last season, which would have likely resulted in him ending up on one of the all-conference scrolls by the end of the season.
Earl would end up starting the first two games of the season before seeing his season come to an end prematurely with an injury in the week two contest against Presbyterian. He posted with tackles in Furman’s season-opening, 23-21, win over William & Mary before following that up with a seven-tackle performance against the Blue Hose, which included half-a-tackle-for-loss.
Earl received such high praise coming into the 2025 season primarily because of his strong start to his career back during the 2024 campaign, which saw him garner SoCon All-Freshman Team plaudits following a campaign that saw him post 49 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss and one sack. His first-career start came in a home loss to Western Carolina. Earl is athletic and physical, with a good football IQ. He will once again one of the centerpieces of the Paladin defense once again this fall.
In his freshman season two years ago, Earl tallied a season-high 11 tackles in Furman’s, 19-13, setback against Wofford, while his seven tackles, including two for a loss, against No. 21 East Tennessee State, were vital in the Paladin, 24-21, upset road win. Earl’s 49 tackles for the Paladins a couple of years ago would see him finish out the season ranking fourth overall on the squad in total tackles.
Raleigh Herbert is coming off a strong 2025 campaign for the Paladins and he logged starts in all 12 games as a part of an improving defensive unit a year ago, playing a key role in at several Paladin wins. His 48-yard pick-six in Furman’s 31-13 road win at Samford last season had a direct impact on changing the momentum of that contest just before the half in that game.
His acrobatic snag and score against the Bulldogs was one of the top defensive highlights of the season for the Paladins and it showed Herbert’s deceptive overall athleticism and ball skills. Herbert is the perfect example of what will be an unheralded linebacking unit in comparison to some of the others in the SoCon, and yet those underrating this unit will do so at their own peril. Herbert logged starts in all 12 games last season, posting 72 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks to finish the season fourth on the squad in total tackles.
He posted six tackles and a fumble recovery in what was Furman’s fourth-straight win in the series over The Citadel last season. He recorded a career-high 11 tackles in the loss at Chattanooga and has totaled 17 starts over the past couple of seasons as a key member of the Furman linebacking unit.
A potential rising star at inside linebacker heading into the upcoming season is redshirt freshman Caleb Ellison. The 5-11, 230-lb, native of Murfreesboro, TN., logged action in two games last season, allowing him to maintain his redshirt status as a rookie last season. He registered a tackle-for-loss against Campbell in what was a key 28-24 road win in what was his debut.
In the regular-season home finale against VMI, Ellison registered a pair of tackles. Ellison has excellent size and nose for the football, with good instincts. As a senior in high school back in 2024 at Oakland HS, Ellison helped his prep program to a 14-1 record and a 42-20 state title win over Houston HS, which ended up being his third title win in four seasons as a prep at Oakland. He finished the season with 107 tackles and seven sacks en route to being named Region 3-6A Linebacker of the Year in ’24.
MJ Jenkins, Jacob Hanson and Nick Simmons will add depth at inside linebacker this coming season, and like Ellison, all three redshirted their first rookie seasons in a Furman uniform. Simmons joined the Furman football program last July prior to a standout career at Ware County High School (4A), serving as team captain and leading his team in tackles as a senior.
Like Simmons, Jenkins did not log game action for the Paladins last season, but he enjoyed an outstanding prep career at the Bolles School (2A), which has been a pipeline of talent for Furman football over the years.
Jenkins has good size, at 6-2, 220 lbs, and he is a player that has an excellent motor and brings athleticism to the unit. He finished out his prep career in impressive fashion, with 293 tackles, 43 tackles-for-loss and 11 sacks in his prep career alone.
Linebacker Analysis
With Ryan Earl back at 100% this fall, the Paladins will have some solid experience in the spine of their defense this fall, and it would have been interesting to see what would have transpired for the defensive unit if he could have stayed healthy the entire season last fall, instead of playing in just two games. Raleigh Herbert's return gives the Paladins a solid 1-2 punch and more veteran leadership this fall. Keep an eye on a guy like Caleb Ellison, who I believe might be in line to have a breakout season for the Paladins at linebacker this fall.
While Furman’s front seven was solid all season, it was the secondary that offered both a glimpse of where vast improvements had been made, with both Lindenwood transfer Taylen Blaylock and AK Burrell having much to do with that, while at corner, it revealed just how much the Paladins needed to improve if it wanted to be an elite defense much the same as it was in 2023 with corners Travis Blackshear and Micah Robinson providing the playmaking ability at both positions.
If running back has been the biggest position to fall off since that memorable ’23 season on the offensive side of the ball, it’s been the cornerback spot for the defense.
And yet, it was more youthful error rather than cause for concern. That’s because it’s a youthful canvas with talent. Now that talent comes with a price sometimes. The life of a young cornerback at any level of college football is a challenging one.
It’s the one position that everyone in the stands knows exactly who, where and when the big mistake was made. It is also the one position on the football field that can offer a high higher than any dose of the highest illicit drug could offer. Take the case of young Jordan Miller, who lived in both worlds in about a two-week span last season for the Paladins.
Miller lived life on the edge at Furman at cornerback last season for the Paladins—from his game-clinching INT and subsequent 95-yard return for a touchdown against East Tennessee State, sealing the 31-22 home win—to the tough afternoon against The Citadel, where he was beaten on go routes not once but twice in a row only to be removed from the game afterwards and not to return in a 24-14 win over the Bulldogs a couple of weeks later. Such is the life of a NCAA Division I cornerback, and it’s a life lived out loud on Saturday afternoons in the fall. This season, the redshirt sophomore has grown up and matured a little more, and he will be the starter at one of the two cornerback positions heading into the 2026 season.
Miller, a 5-9, 181-lb product out of Conyers, GA. saw action in 11 of 12 contests last season as a redshirt freshman, including starting the final six games of the season. He concluded the campaign by posting 27 tackles, five pass breakups, one INT and one touchdown.
His 95-yard pick-six on the game’s final play against ETSU not only sealed a 31-22 win for the ‘Dins, it also marked the longest return for a score by a Furman player since Gary Wilkins to a pick 98 yards to the house in Furman’s 27-10 home win over App State back in 2013. Miller’s 95-yard pick return for a score was enough to garner him SoCon Defensive Player of the Week accolades for first week of October.
Miller was one of the few to see meaningful reps to return from last year’s unit this season, as the Paladins lost Eddie Jackson III, AJ Seay and Keon Jones off last season’s roster, with only Jackson III having eligibility of the players mentioned.
Another returnee that has seen plenty of action in his previous two seasons at Furman is junior Daco Coleman, who is one of just three true juniors on the entire roster. Coleman has logged time in 19 of 23 games over the course of his Paladin career, making his debut in ’24 against Stetson in what was a 48-7 non-conference win.
Coleman logged action in 10 of 11 games for the Paladins last fall, and the 5-8, 176-lb native of Lawrenceville, GA, posted his first-career start in Furman’s 28-24 win at Campbell last season. He finished out the campaign with 20 tackles and a pair of pass breakups. Coleman will likely find himself in a heated battle to start at one of the two corner spots in preseason camp.
player that is going to see the field a lot this season and another potential starter at safety from the outset this fall is redshirt freshman safety Caleb Easterling. The Richmond Hill, GA., product played sparingly last fall in his first season with the Paladins, and when he was one the field, the impact was felt.
In his first season, Easterling’s impact as both a return man and a ‘hit man’ on special teams were both evident. The 5-9, 179-lb Richmond Hill HS product logged action in only four games, but it was enough to garner him SoCon All-Freshman Team honors a year ago.
Easterling hearkens back to some of the more recent corners to star for the Paladins, like Travis Blackshear or even all the way back to a guy like William Middleton in 2010.
Easterling has a chance to put his name up there with some of the greats that have played corner at Furman, such as guys like Richie Jackson (1998-2001), Rodney Johnson (1998-2001), as well as the aforementioned Blackshear (2018-23) and Middleton (2006-10) should he decide to stick around all four years, but he may be too good to do so in this day in age of big college paydays.
Easterling is here now and is a player that figures to be a breakout performer for the Paladins on the defensive side of the ball this fall, as well as once again returning kicks. In a 52-28, late-season loss to Mercer, Easterling posted a 100-yard kickoff return against Mercer for a score, while also posting a 76-yard return against Chattanooga to set up the Paladin offense in great field position just before the half the very next week at Chattanooga.
Those two highlights alone were enough to garner him SoCon All-Freshman Team accolades last season. His 100-yard kickoff return last fall was the longest by a Paladin since 2012, when running back Jerodis Williams took one back 100 yards in a 33-28 road loss at Appalachian State.
All told, he finished the ’25 campaign with eight kickoff returns for a total of 309 yards (38.6 YPR). In action on the field as an actual defensive player, Easterling saw his most meaningful reps against both Wofford and The Citadel, posting a pair of tackles in the road loss to the Terriers, while also posting a stop in the 24-14 win over The Citadel. His speed is a game-changer for the Paladins, and his physicality and ability to hold up against physical receivers is also noteworthy.
Competing with the likes of Miller and Coleman will be Bucknell graduate transfer Aaron Davis, who will provide plenty of veteran leadership at corner. Prior to his two seasons spent at Bucknell, Davis also spent two years at NCAA Division II Wheeling University before transferring up to the Patriot League program. Davis logged action in 20 games over two seasons at Bucknell, totaling 73 tackles, including 57 solo, as well as four INTs and a pair of pass breakups.
Among Davis’ career highlights is a 79-yard pick-six in a 38-35 overtime win over Lehigh back in 2024. In his two seasons at Wheeling, Davis was sensational as a sophomore, posting 42 tackles, an NCAA Division II high 21 pass breakups and four INTs to garner All-Mountain East Conference plaudits.
The only other transfer at cornerback is Michael Woods Jr., who enrolled in classes at Furman back in January and took part in spring drills after spending a couple of seasons at NCAA Division II Northwood University (Mich). The redshirt sophomore logged time in 12 games in his only season of action at Northwood, finishing the ’25 campaign with 42 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, a fumble recovery and an INT.
Redshirt freshman Caden Wilson will look to see his first action in a Furman uniform this fall, as he will compete for a spot on the depth chart along with true freshmen Ethan Washington and Ryan Houlihan will look to make an immediate impact. Washington has good size at 6-3, 182, as he comes to Furman out of Missouri City, TX, where he played at 6A Ridge Point excelling at corner and safety. While being targeted 21 times on the season, yielded only five completions over the course of final two seasons.
Trae Williams will also be one to watch at corner for the Paladins this fall, as he joined the program as a freshman in January after spending time at Air Force Prep and will have four years of eligibility remaining.
A 2025 graduate of 5A Denton High School in Denton,TX, Williams starred at both corner and safety on defense, and as a wide receiver on offense, garnering all-district citations three times during his high school career. During his senior season, Williams was part of a Denton team that finished as the state title runner-up, helping his program to a 13-2 mark in 2025.
While cornerback notably remains the biggest overall question for Furman’s defense entering the 2026 season, it’s the safety positions that should be both deep and talented in 2026, despite the loss of a significant piece to the puzzle like Taylen Blaylock.
While Blaylock will no doubt be missed, as along with Stoneking, could lay claim as the top defensive player on that side of the ball for the Paladins in 2025. Fast forward to 2026 and you could see that same type of big-play potential out of veteran AK Burrell, who returned to the lineup last season after having to sit out the entire 2025 campaign with a knee injury.
Burrell emerged at safety as another playmaker for the Paladins in the secondary, with the versatility to make plays against the run, while also excelling in pass coverage. The 5-11, 208-lb product out of Baton Rouge, LA., was a preseason Second-Team All-SoCon selection according to the league’s head coaches, registering starts in the final 10 games of the season after he returned to full health.
Burrell finished off his solid ’25 campaign with 58 tackles, ranking sixth on the squad. In Furman’s 24-14 home win over The Citadel, Burrell posted a career-high 10 tackles, while ending the final game of the regular-season at Clemson by posting nine stops. Burrell also notched his first-career INT last season for the Paladins, as his 31-yard interception of Wofford quarterback JT Fayard to set up Furman’s final touchdown of the afternoon, as the Paladins dropped a 31-13 contest on the road to the Terriers.
While Burrell is angling towards being the starter at one of the three safety spots in Furman’s 4-2-5 defensive alignment. The other returning starter in the mix is Billy Lewis, who has been one of the most reliable and consistent Furman defenders in his two seasons playing on the back end. The 6-0, 189-lb redshirt junior from Athens, GA., was a SoCon All-Freshman team selection two years ago, and moved into the starting lineup full-time last fall, as he started all 12 games, posting 71 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, two INTs, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery last season. Lewis enters his redshirt season with five-career INTs, and his 71 tackles ranked him fifth on the team last fall.
The one question mark is who the third starting safety for the Paladins in 2026 is, or rather, who replaces Blaylock as the third starter might be a better way to put it. The favorite in the clubhouse would seem to be Yale transfer Josh Tarver, who is a preseason All-SoCon selection out of Yale, where he was a key cog of the Bulldogs’ defense last season, helping Yale become the first team to win an automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs. In 32 games over the span of three seasons for the Bulldogs, Tarver posted 94 tackles, six interceptions, and 18 pass breakups in his Yale career.
He was a big part of Yale’s championship run last season, as he garnered playing time in all 12 contests, which included helping the Bulldogs to a 9-3 record and the program’s first-ever trip to the FCS Playoffs. Tarver wouldn’t be done there either, as he helped the Bulldogs to their first-ever playoff win, as the Bulldogs would defeat Youngstown State, 43-42, in dramatic fashion in the opening round of the FCS postseason. In his final season at Yale, Tarver posted 34 tackles, six pass breakups and a game-sealing interception in what was a 13-10 win over Princeton last fall. Tarver is in line to replace the services of Blaylock as the missing link in the Paladin secondary this fall.
Sophomore Connor Adams is a promising up and coming talent at safety. After enrolling at Furman in January of 2025 and would log action in the fall, mostly as a part of Furman’s special teams unit and was part of the two-deep behind AK Burrell at one of the safety spots when the Paladins played their final game of the season on the road at Clemson. All told, in limited action in 2025, Adams posted five tackles and 1.5 TFL.
Redshirt sophomore Max Eubanks will offer veteran leadership in a reserve role at safety this fall, having logged a majority of his reps on special teams last season for the Paladins after playing three games as a freshman in 2024.
Braylon Peebles, Saxon Clements and Caden O’Neill are a talented trio of freshmen that will compete for time this fall. Peebles comes to Furman from Cardinal-Gibbons HS, which also notably produced Joshua Stoneking. Peebles was an early enrollee and went through spring drills with the Paladins. Clements played his prep ball for former Paladin quarterback Ingle Martin at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville.
Secondary Analysis
The Paladin secondary is potentially the most improved area on the team heading into 2026, and not only that, but there's also some quality depth waiting in the wings, especially at cornerback. Both Daco Coleman and Jordan Miller could be in for solid seasons and could answer a lot of questions, while Caleb Easterling adds a certified playmaker into the mix, which is not all unlike what Travis Blackshear gave to the 2023 unit. Aaron Davis and Michael Woods Jr. add more than adequate depth. I expect Joshua Tarver to add a bit of spice at safety, where he will likely be alongside a pair of Paladin veterans, in nickel AK Burrell and Billy Lewis, giving the Paladins once again one of better safeties rooms in the SoCon. No position on either side of the ball did more for itself in the offseason than did Furman with its development of veterans already on the roster, as well as key adds from the portal than corner. I expect to see a marked improvement this fall.
Overall Defensive Synopsis
Furman’s one glaring weakness defensively last season was at cornerback, which led to the defensive unit to being susceptible to the big play the entire season once teams figured it out. Otherwise, Stoneking and the Furman front seven might have done even more damage. Pass defense on the perimeter was exposed against teams like Western Carolina, Mercer and even The Citadel last fall, and that must change this year if Furman wants to find itself back in the SoCon title hunt and in the FCS Playoffs. Other than that one are though, the Paladins are stacked on defense and might just have the best unit in the SoCon in 2026.
Special Teams
It's rare that the Furman kicking game is ever a major question mark coming into a season, but that's exactly where the Paladins are entering the 2026 season with the graduation of All-America and All-SoCon place-kicker Ian Williams, who starred for the Paladins each of the previous four seasons after transferring into the program from North Carolina State.
Prior to the arrival of Williams, the Paladins had Timmy Bleekrode from 2019-21, while Grayson Atkins starred as an all-league kicker for the Paladins from 2017-19. Bleekrode and Atkins finished their respective careers ranking No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in career field goal percentage, with Bleekrode finishing tops in Furman history (84.0%/21-of-25) over three seasons, while Atkins connected on 80.5% (33-of-41) of his kicks during his three seasons as Furman's starting place-kicker.
Ian Williams was Furman's starter at place-kicker from 2022-25, connecting on 55-of-77 kicks over that span, including going 73-of-78 on PATs in his career, finishing his career with a total of 238 kick-scoring points, which ranks fifth in school history for kick-scoring points. Williams tied a school record with a 57-yard field goal two years ago against Mercer, while also posting made kicks of 52 and 51 yards, respectively, in his four seasons as Furman's place-kicker.
The area in which Williams will likely be missed most, however, is on kickoffs. Blessed with one of the strongest legs in the history of Furman's program, Williams posted 193 touchbacks on 266 total kickoffs in his career, which included kicking only two out of bounds over his entire career. He averaged 63.5 yards-per-kickoff in his career, while Furman routinely ranked among the top teams in the nation when it came to kick return defense.
Williams also handled the punting duties each of the past two seasons, averaging 45.0 yards-per-punt with nine touchbacks and 13 punts having been fair-caught last season. His 45.0 yards-per-punt average on 59 punt attempts as a senior is a new single-season record for punting average, surpassing record-holder Paul Stambaugh, who averaged 44.7 yards-per-punt in 1949. In two seasons as Furman's primary punter, Williams averaged an impressive 42.6 yards-per-punt on 120 career punt attempts.
It goes without saying that replacing the production in kickoffs, punting and field goal and PAT kicking over the past four seasons won't be easy. Simply put, Williams was a machine in those ares for a majority over the past four seasons.
Set with the unenviable task of following behind such a legacy this fall for the Paladins will involve at least four players competing for the place-kicking responsibilities this fall, with sophomore Dylan Gomez, redshirt sophomore Nathan Chapman, and freshmen CJ Falotico and Bruce Brown being the main competitors for those duties this fall.
Falotico and Gomez appear to be the frontrunners for the place-kicking duties this fall, with Gomez transferring in from the College of the Canyons after playing his freshman year there. Falotico comes to Furman from the lower part of the state, as he played his prep football at 2A Phillip Simmons High School, handling the place-kicking and punting duties.
The Charleston, S.C., product was a two-time all-region and all-state selection and helped lead Phillip Simmons to a 23-5 mark over his final two seasons, including a 12-2 campaign as a junior in 2024. He was selected as the SCFCA Lower State 2A Specialist of the Year and in his senior season, Falotico connected on a career-long 47-yard field goal and had 10 kickoff touchbacks in a single game. If Falotico doesn't end up winning the starting place-kicking job, his strong leg is likely to land him the starting responsibilities on kickoffs this fall for the 'Dins. Falotico participated in the North-South All-Star, playing for South Carolina.
Brown is also a sandlapper, playing his prep football at 4A Daniel High School and he has been with the program ever since arriving last summer. He redshirted his first season, but has looked the part of being a serious contender for the starting job over the early portions of fall camp.
He helped Daniel HS to a remarkable 38-3 record over his final three seasons, finishing his career 223-of-225 on PATs and 17-of-27 on field goals in his career, including a career-best 48-yarder as a senior. He totaled 109 total kick-scoring points and recorded 46 touchbacks as a senior in 2024. Like Falotico, he was a member of the South Carolina squad in the North-South All-Star game as a senior.
Gray Gitter is likely to handle the punting duties this fall after serving as the backup behind to Ian Williams over the past couple of seasons. The redshirt junior has served as the holder on placekicks last season and figures to serve in that capacity once again this fall.
2025 Recap
Furman's 2025 season would be highlighted by significant improvements made in almost every area, as the Paladins finished off a 6-6 campaign, which included a 4-4 mark in Southern Conference play, and that was good enough for a tie for fourth in the standings in the SoCon last fall.
The Paladins' season wasn't anything spectacular for a program with such lofty standards, year-in and year-out, however, it was a step in the right direction after such a disappointing 2024 campaign, which saw the Paladins have one of their worst seasons of the modern era on the heels of one of their best, finishing just 3-8 overall and 2-6 in the SoCon two years ago.
However, three years after making to the brink of the final four of the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2005, finishing the '23 season with a 10-3 record, losing 35-28 in overtime to Montana, the Paladins appear to be ready to make an ascent back into the national conversation, and that is thanks in large part to what was a transitional 2025 campaign.
Furman kicked off its turnaround season at home against William & Mary on Aug. 30, and would start its season with a thrilling 23-21 win over the Tribe. It would be an important win for a program looking for a morale boost.
The Paladins trailed the game 21-20 with under seven minutes left in the game, however, quarterback Trey Hedden would complete three-straight passes, which covered 43 yards, setting up what would prove to be the game-winning points from place-kicker Ian Williams, who connected on his third field goal of the afternoon from 32 yards out to give the Paladins the lead for good with 2:43 remaining.
Making sure that lead would stand were defensive end Joshua Stoneking and Malachi Dobbins, who pressured Tribe quarterback Tyler Hughes on their final drive of the game, and Lindenwood transfer Taylen Blaylock dropped Tribe running back Rashad Raymond for a four-yard loss, and that forced the Tribe to leave the offense on the field for fourth down, but Blaylock came up big once again, as he broke up Hughes’ pass on fourth down, securing the win for the Paladins.
Furman’s offense could muster only 237 yards of total offense in the season opener, as the Paladins did most of their damage through the air, with Hedden completing 21-of-29 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. The lone scoring toss was a short pitch to true freshman wideout Evan James, who scored on a short four-yard reception, giving the Paladins a 14-7 lead.
The Paladins would end up getting four sacks from Joshua Stoneking and a 43-yard INT return for a score in the season-opening win over the Tribe.
The Paladins would get a big dose of humility in week two. A week after knocking off reigning SoCon champion Mercer, the Blue Hose would take down Furman, 39-38, overcoming a 28-7 second quarter deficit in the process.
It was a tale of two halves for Furman, which started the game strong and looked like a SoCon title contender, but by the end of the day, the Paladins squandered a big opportunity to move to 2-0 on the young season.The game would be decided in overtime, and it had everything, which included an hour-and-a-half delay in the second half due to lightning. Furman held a 28-14 lead at the break, which the Paladins increased to 31-14 early in the third quarter when Ian Williams connected on a 34-yard field goal with 9:43 remaining in the third quarter.
PC would get on the board on its second drive of the second half, as Hurst tossed a three-yard scoring strike to Zach Switzer with 5:10 remaining in the third quarter, cutting Furman’s lead to 10, at 31-21. The scoring pass from Hurst-to-Switzer concluded an impressive 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive for the Blue Hose.
With momentum in its favor and after the Blue Hose defense forced a Furman punt, Presbyterian would threaten to put more points on the board early in the fourth quarter, however, Jett Jackson’s 31-yard field goal attempt missed wide right.
Furman’s offense, however, continued to sputter and after another Paladin punt, the Blue Hose continued to gash the Paladin defense with big pass plays, and did so again on the first play of the ensuing series. Hurst found all-conference wideout Cincere Gill for a gain of 31 yards to get the Blue Hose to the Furman 24. However, after getting the ball down to the Furman 12, Hurst would be intercepted by Taylen Blaylock at the Furman five and he returned it 26 yards out to the Furman 31 with 10:38 remaining.
The Paladin offense once again could find no success on the ground or through the air, and was forced to punt the ball back to PC less than two minutes after Blaylock's INT had turned back the Blue Hose deep in the red zone.
After taking over the football at its own 45, Hurst completed passes of 14 and 12 yards to Switzer and Dominic Kirby to get the Blue Hose to the Furman 29. Then a 17-yard run by Hurst after he had been flushed from the pocket would get the Blue Hose to the Furman 12. On first down from the Furman 12, Antonio Wright rushed for four yards to the Paladin eight with 6:45 remaining and at 4:45 p.m. EST time in the afternoon. Time was called and the stadium was evacuated due to lightning.
Play would resume at approximately 6:37 p.m. EST and after a pair of incompletions from Hurst, PC would have to settle for a 25-yard field goal from Jett Jackson to cut Furman’s lead to seven, at 31-24.
Following a fumble on a handoff exchange between Hedden and freshman running back CJ Nettles on a 3rd-and-4 play, it was recovered by PC defensive end Carter Sydlowski at the Furman at the Furman 26 and returned 14 yards to the 12. On the first play following the turnover, Hurst found wideout BJ Atkins for a diving grab in the corner of the end zone to make it a 31-31 game with 4:38 remaining.
After Furman couldn't generate anything offensively and punted the ball back to the Blue Hose, PC opted to run off the remaining three minutes off the clock, which included a couple of deliberate delay of game penalties to force overtime.
Furman won the toss and took the ball first in overtime at the PC 25. Furman got a six-yard run from Smith on the second play of the series, and that was followed by a six-yard completion from Hedden-to-Devin Hester Jr. to get the Paladins to the PC 13. Smith then gained 12 up the middle on the next play and then plunged in from a yard out for the go-ahead score, making it a 38-31 Furman lead.
On PC's first play of their first offensive series in the extra session, Hurst hooked up with Kirby for a gain of 22 all the way to the Furman 3. A three-yard scoring strike from Hurst-to-Levicki tied made it a 38-37 game.
After the Blue Hose took a timeout to decide on their potential game-winning two-point conversion play, the staff opted to go right back to the sure-handed tight end Nathan Levicki, who didn't disappoint, as he hauled in a diving catch in the near corner of the fieldhouse end zone, delivering the win for PC.
The play was briefly reviewed to make sure he made a secure catch, but there's was little doubt that even if it hadn't have been upheld, PC's dominance in the second half and overtime made it deserving of the win.
Furman could muster just 96 yards of total offense and only two first downs in the latter 30 minutes and overtime period of football. That came on the heels of gaining 274 yards and racking up 17 first downs in the opening 30 minutes of football.
Furman would rebound the next time it took the field against Campbell, as the Paladins would go on the road and secure a 28-24 win over the Camels in the first-ever meeting between the programs, as the Paladins improved to 2-0 against the CAA on the young season.
The Paladins needed a big play from their defense to secure the road win, and in the end, it would be Buck Buchanan Award finalist Joshua Stoneking that would breakthrough and provide the most important play in the win, sacking Camels quarterback Camden Sixkiller on the all-important fourth down with the Camels threatening to win the game, having reached the Furman red zone with less than half-a-minute remaining.
The Camels would drive to the Furman 11 on their final possession, however, on 4th-and-5 with 21 seconds left, however, Joshua Stoneking bull-rushed wrapping up Sixkiller and in the process, notched the Paladins' third sack of the day, but more importantly preserving Furman's second win in their first three games to start the season.
Furman's defense would also set up what proved to be the go-ahead score just prior to the Camels' final drive. The Paladins had had trouble stopping Campbell's offense the entire second half until the final offensive drives of the game for the Camels.
Furman's defense finally forced a Campbell punt and then on Furman's next possession, it appeared the Paladins would have to punt it back to the Camels; however, a substitution infraction gave the Paladins an automatic first down to extend the drive.
The result would be Furman's offense making Campbell pay dearly for the miscue, as Hedden found his favorite target Evan James for a 30-yard TD pass with 5:10 left, giving the Paladins a 28-24 lead.
The Camels would drive to the Furman 11 on their final possession, however, on 4th-and-5 with 21 seconds left, however, Joshua Stoneking bull-rushed wrapping up Sixkiller and in the process, notched the Paladins' third sack of the day, but more importantly preserving Furman's second win in their first three games to start the season.
At 2-1, the Paladins were ready to open Southern Conference play at a place that has always been a tough venue for Furman to come away with a victory, as the Paladins began their 2025 SoCon journey in Homewood, AL., against the Samford Bulldogs.
Furman didn't play Samford in 2024, thanks to Hurricane Helene causing the lights to go out in Greenville for over 90% of the Upstate of South Carolina, and so the last time the two met was at Pete Hanna Stadium in a key mid-season SoCon tilt in 2023, which saw the Paladins sack Samford quarterbacks nine times and leave Homewood with a 27-21 win.
It was Furman's defensive performance that dimmed the lights for Samford's "Hatch Attack" offense in front of an excited and large Parents' Weekend home crowd, which entered with winning expectations inside the same facility as it had two years ago in the latest installment of the SoCon rivalry between the Paladins and Bulldogs.
On this particular Saturday, Joshua Stoneking and the Paladin defense would continue their strong play, as Furman came away with a dominating 31-13 win.
Much has changed in two years for both programs in terms of player turnover, but for much of Saturday's 31-13 win over Samford, however, it had a very similar feel for Furman's current roster of players and loyal fanbase, as the Paladins ended up with seven sacks in Saturday's lopsided verdict, which of course was just two shy of equaling the total of nine sacks by the 2023 Paladins. Furman now has a combined 16 quarterback takedowns in the past two meetings with Samford.
"We said pressure them and you have got to contain him [Samford QB Quincy Crittendon] and I thought we did a pretty good job of that and you know you have to get him on the ground and certainly the turnovers are big and one of the best things we did as a defense I thought was we didn't let them run it...I think their longest runs on the day were scrambles and you take a couple of plays out of that game and it's about as well as you could hope to play defensively," head coach Clay Hendrix said of his team's defensive performance in the 31-13 win at Samford.
With a win its Southern Conference opener, the Paladins improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in league play, while Samford remained winless, falling to 0-5 overall and 0-3 in Southern Conference play. The win also marked Furman’s 301st win in its Southern Conference history.
In addition to its seven sacks, Furman's defense also forced three Samford turnovers, with one of those contributing directly to a score on a 47-yard pick-six by linebacker Raleigh Herbert just before the half, which helped Furman establish momentum for the remainder of the afternoon en route to the road win.
Next up for Furman would be an East Tennessee State team that would visit Greenville as talented as any in the Southern Conference, and it was a team that many pundits considered as a dark horse to potentially win the 2025 SoCon title.
With the most power five transfers in the SoCon, including a pair of those under center, the Paladins would have their hands full in front of a rowdy home crowd of 10,527 fans on-hand for Family Weekend at Paladin Stadium.
Donning all Purple uniforms, the Paladins overcame a 22-7 deificit early in the second half, overwhelming the Bucs for 24 unanswered points to capture a thrilling 31-22 win.
It would end up being a big day for Furman quarterback Trey Hedden and the Furman offense, which would end up outgaining the Bucs 500-362 in total offense, improving to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in league action.
Hedden finished his afternoon by connecting on 36-of-49 for 358 yards, two touchdowns and an INT. Hedden also had a 1-yard scoring plunge to for Furman's first score of the day.
In the absence of leading receiver and freshman sensation Evan James, both Hamilton and Harris hauled in a combined 22 passes for 222 yards and two TDs. Hamilton had a career day, hauling in 11 passes for 141 yards and two scores, while Harris hauled in 11 passes for 81 yards in the game.
Furman's ground attack was powered by a heavy dose of Gavin Hall, as he became the first Paladin to rush for 100 yards in a game this season, finishing the contest with 101 yards on 23 carries.
Cade McNamara and Jacolby Criswell combined the duties under center for ETSU. McNamara started the game and played a quarter, and finishing the day connecting on 2-of-7 passes for 11 yards, while Criswell saw action over the most of the final three quarters, completed 7-for-14 passes for 100 yards with an INT. Criswell was most effective rushing the football, as he finished the contest with 73 yards and a score on 15 attempts. All told, both FBS power four transfers combined to go 9-of-22 passing for 111 yards and no TDs with an INT.
The ground attack for the Bucs was led by Houston, who returned to the backfield following a three-game absence, finishing the game with 150 yards on 22 carries, with half of his rushing yards coming on the first play of the second half.
The Bucs did out-gain the Paladins on the ground (275-142), however, in addition to holding a 148-yard advantage in total yards, the Paladins held advantages in passing 32yards (358-100), total snaps (82-76), and time of possession (35:32-24:28).
Furman's 500 yards of total offense in the win marked the first time the Paladins have gained over 500 or more yards in a game since knocking off Stetson, 48-7, last season, gaining 510 yards of total offense in that particular contest.
The last Southern Conference foe, which saw the Paladins gain 500 or more yards against a SoCon foe against was on Oct. 21, 2023, as the Paladins knocked off No. 8 Western Carolina, as Furman would end up with 508 yards in the 29-17 win over the Catamounts on that particular occasion.
Furman's win marked its 15th in 17 games played at Paladin Stadium, and it marks the eighth in 10 meetings since the Bucs rejoined the SoCon back in 2016. The Paladins have now won 31 of 40 all-time meetings between the two foes.
Certainly not to be overlooked Saturday was another strong effort from Furman's defense, and in particular, the pass rush, which once again was a major influencer on the outcome.
The Paladin defense sacked ETSU quarterbacks four times on the day, with the nation's leader in sacks, Joshua Stoneking, coming up with three of them as a part of a seven-tackle effort.
Sophomore defensive back Billy Lewis led Furman's defense with nine tackles and Caldwell Bussey matched Stoneking's seven stops along the defensive front and contributed the other sack the Paladins recorded in the win.
Furman was riding high after its win over ETSU, but those high hopes were quickly brought back down to reality the following week in Cullowhee, facing off against a desperate Western Carolina team that had been without quarterback and Walter Payton Award finalist Taron Dickens for the first three games of the season due to suspension.
His return had coincided with instant success, as the Catamounts were on a roll themselves, having won three-straight, including two SoCon games, as the Catamounts had shown that, with Dickens, they could be a legitimate SoCon title contender.
For a second-straight season, the Paladins had no answers to slow the Catamount offense, while turning the ball over five times to limit their own offensive success rate.
Western Carolina won the coin toss and elected to defer until the second half, and so Trey Hedden and the Paladin offense would get the first crack at things on a beautiful fall Saturday at EJ Whitmire Stadium.
The Paladins would start their first possession of the day at their own 15. The Paladins would go three-and-out on their opening drive, giving the ball to the Catamounts at the Furman 41 to start the game.
The Catamounts would drive to the Furman 14, however, on 4th-and-1, Patrick Boyd Jr. was stopped for no gain and the Paladin offense would get the ball for a second time in the game.
Both teams experienced their fair share of mistakes in the opening quarter, with Furman’s Trey Hedden picked off in the end zone after Kerry King having the ball wrestled the ball away from him by Catamount defensive back Hasaan Sykes. Furman’s Taylen Blalock dropped a clear INT at the 31 that would have likely resulted in a touchdown. Later, WCU star quarterback Taron Dickens found a wide Patrick Boyd Jr., who dropped a deep ball that would have surely resulted in a Catamount touchdown.
Early in the second quarter, Western Carolina would draw first blood when freshman kicker Marcus Trout on a 45-yard field goal with 14:23 left in the half, as the Catamounts finished off a short 18-yard drive to take a 3-0 lead, which was set up by shanked Ian Williams punt.
Then after another three-and-out by the Paladin offense, which saw Furman come up about a foot short of the first down and after opting to punt, Taron Dickens engineered what was a 7-play, 80-yard drive that culminated with a beautifully thrown spiraled pass down the sideline for freshman wideout MJ Rossin to run under, increasing the WCU advantage to 10-0 with 10:05 remaining in the half.
Western Carolina’s next touchdown would be set up by Furman’s first turnover of the day, as Gavin Hall fumbled near the visiting sideline and Samaurie Dukes forced the ball free and Justin Wallace was in the right place at the right time to pounce on the football for the Catamounts at the Paladin 28.
Four plays later, the Catamounts increased their lead to 17-0 with 7:39 remaining in the half when Taron Dickens connected with Joshua Perry for a 9-yard touchdown and a lofted pass towards the corner of the end zone.
On Furman’s next possession, Western Carolina Ken Moore Jr. picked off Hedden’s pass and raced 64 yards for a score, which was capped by an impressive front flip into the end zone with 1:38 left in the half to make it a 24-0 game. It was Furman’s third turnover of the half, including the second INT for Trey Hedden in the first half.
Furman’s offense finally found a spark late in the half, driving 75 yards on their final possession of the half to get within 24-7, as Hedden found Joshua Burrell for an 8-yard scoring strike with 13 seconds to play in the opening half. It would, however, be the only points of the afternoon produced by the Furman offense.
The Catamounts got the ball to open the second half, and it wouldn’t take long for the Purple and Gold to find their first points of the second half, as Malik Knight hauled in a 41-yard pass from Dickens down the near sideline for a 41-yard scoring connection to make it a 31-7 game just 96 seconds into the latter 30 minutes of football.
Furman would mount a promising drive on its first possession of the second half, reaching the Catamount 11-yard line. However, Hedden’s pass on 2nd-and-8 aimed for the corner of the end zone and tight end Joshua Burrell didn’t have enough air under it, and Moore leapt to intercept his second Hedden pass of the day, ending Furman’s most promising drive and giving the Catamounts all the momentum.
Western Carolina then drove 80 yards in 12 plays, with Markel Townsend finishing off the final 12 by carrying Furman defenders into the end zone to make it a 38-7 game with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter.
Furman would again drive deep inside the Catamount red zone, and once again were turned away with nothing, as on fourth-and-goal, Hedden was blindsided by Sykes on a ‘CAT’ or corner blitz and the ball was forced free but the ball bounced out of bounds, but it didn’t matter as the Catamount defense had once again stymied the Paladins.
It would ultimately set up Dickens’ final scoring drive of the afternoon, as Dickens found Josiah Thomas on a 6-yard scoring pass to culminate a 9-play, 83-yard drive with 9:25 remaining to make it 45-7.
Following another stop by Western Carolina’s defense, backup quarterback Isaac Lee put the finishing touches on the blowout win, as he raced 66 yards for a score, outracing the Paladin defense for the final Catamount tally of the afternoon, setting the final score, at 52-7 with 6:20 left in the game.
The struggles would continue the following week in Spartanburg, taking on an upstart Wofford team. The Paladins fell to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in league play with a second-straight road league loss, as the Terriers moved to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in league action.
It marked the third-straight season the Paladins had ended a loss to Wofford with 13 points.
The Paladins held a slight advantage in total yards (329-325), but couldn't overcome three costly turnovers, while the Terriers only committed one miscue on the afternoon. Over the past couple of games, Furman has committed eight turnovers, which have led directly to 38 points for the opposition, including a pair of INTs returned for scores.
The Paladins fell to 15-14 against the Terriers since Wofford joined the NCAA Division I ranks in 1997, and now hold a 56-36-7 lead in the all-time series, which began way back in 1889.
Furman quarterback Trey Hedden finished the afternoon connecting on27-of-39 passes for 257 yards, with three INTs and one TD. He was sacked five times in the game.
Northwestern State transfer JT Fayard completed the day by connecting on 18-of-25 passes for 179 yards, with two TDs and one INT for Wofford.
Hedden, who was without three of his top pass-catchers due to injury, settled in on running back Gavin Hall ( 7 rec, 49 yds) and Devin Hester Jr. (6 rec, 82 yds, 1 TD) as his top receiving targets in the passing game.
Hester's 10-yard scoring catch from Hedden in the second quarter was his first touchdown reception in a Furman uniform. Kerry King also hauled in four passes for 50 yards, while Clemson transfer Landyn James made four receptions for 44 yards.
The ground game was led by Hall, who finished his afternoon with 61 yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts, while CJ Nettles rushed for 34 yards on four attempts.
Fayard's favorite receiving option in the contest was Isaiah Scott, who hauled in seven passes for 91 yards, while freshman Colby Alexander made four catches for 45 yards and a TD.
His return had coincided with instant success, as the Catamounts were on a roll themselves, having won three-straight, including two SoCon games, as the Catamounts had shown that, with Dickens, they could be a legitimate SoCon title contender.
For a second-straight season, the Paladins had no answers to slow the Catamount offense, while turning the ball over five times to limit their own offensive success rate.
Western Carolina won the coin toss and elected to defer until the second half, and so Trey Hedden and the Paladin offense would get the first crack at things on a beautiful fall Saturday at EJ Whitmire Stadium.
The Paladins would start their first possession of the day at their own 15. The Paladins would go three-and-out on their opening drive, giving the ball to the Catamounts at the Furman 41 to start the game.
The Catamounts would drive to the Furman 14, however, on 4th-and-1, Patrick Boyd Jr. was stopped for no gain and the Paladin offense would get the ball for a second time in the game.
Both teams experienced their fair share of mistakes in the opening quarter, with Furman’s Trey Hedden picked off in the end zone after Kerry King having the ball wrestled the ball away from him by Catamount defensive back Hasaan Sykes. Furman’s Taylen Blalock dropped a clear INT at the 31 that would have likely resulted in a touchdown. Later, WCU star quarterback Taron Dickens found a wide Patrick Boyd Jr., who dropped a deep ball that would have surely resulted in a Catamount touchdown.
Early in the second quarter, Western Carolina would draw first blood when freshman kicker Marcus Trout on a 45-yard field goal with 14:23 left in the half, as the Catamounts finished off a short 18-yard drive to take a 3-0 lead, which was set up by shanked Ian Williams punt.
Then after another three-and-out by the Paladin offense, which saw Furman come up about a foot short of the first down and after opting to punt, Taron Dickens engineered what was a 7-play, 80-yard drive that culminated with a beautifully thrown spiraled pass down the sideline for freshman wideout MJ Rossin to run under, increasing the WCU advantage to 10-0 with 10:05 remaining in the half.
Western Carolina’s next touchdown would be set up by Furman’s first turnover of the day, as Gavin Hall fumbled near the visiting sideline and Samaurie Dukes forced the ball free and Justin Wallace was in the right place at the right time to pounce on the football for the Catamounts at the Paladin 28.
Four plays later, the Catamounts increased their lead to 17-0 with 7:39 remaining in the half when Taron Dickens connected with Joshua Perry for a 9-yard touchdown and a lofted pass towards the corner of the end zone.
On Furman’s next possession, Western Carolina Ken Moore Jr. picked off Hedden’s pass and raced 64 yards for a score, which was capped by an impressive front flip into the end zone with 1:38 left in the half to make it a 24-0 game. It was Furman’s third turnover of the half, including the second INT for Trey Hedden in the first half.
Furman’s offense finally found a spark late in the half, driving 75 yards on their final possession of the half to get within 24-7, as Hedden found Joshua Burrell for an 8-yard scoring strike with 13 seconds to play in the opening half. It would, however, be the only points of the afternoon produced by the Furman offense.
The Catamounts got the ball to open the second half, and it wouldn’t take long for the Purple and Gold to find their first points of the second half, as Malik Knight hauled in a 41-yard pass from Dickens down the near sideline for a 41-yard scoring connection to make it a 31-7 game just 96 seconds into the latter 30 minutes of football.
Furman would mount a promising drive on its first possession of the second half, reaching the Catamount 11-yard line. However, Hedden’s pass on 2nd-and-8 aimed for the corner of the end zone and tight end Joshua Burrell didn’t have enough air under it, and Moore leapt to intercept his second Hedden pass of the day, ending Furman’s most promising drive and giving the Catamounts all the momentum.
Western Carolina then drove 80 yards in 12 plays, with Markel Townsend finishing off the final 12 by carrying Furman defenders into the end zone to make it a 38-7 game with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter.
Furman would again drive deep inside the Catamount red zone, and once again were turned away with nothing, as on fourth-and-goal, Hedden was blindsided by Sykes on a ‘CAT’ or corner blitz and the ball was forced free but the ball bounced out of bounds, but it didn’t matter as the Catamount defense had once again stymied the Paladins.
It would ultimately set up Dickens’ final scoring drive of the afternoon, as Dickens found Josiah Thomas on a 6-yard scoring pass to culminate a 9-play, 83-yard drive with 9:25 remaining to make it 45-7.
Following another stop by Western Carolina’s defense, backup quarterback Isaac Lee put the finishing touches on the blowout win, as he raced 66 yards for a score, outracing the Paladin defense for the final Catamount tally of the afternoon, setting the final score, at 52-7 with 6:20 left in the game.
The struggles would continue the following week in Spartanburg, taking on an upstart Wofford team. The Paladins fell to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in league play with a second-straight road league loss, as the Terriers moved to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in league action.
It marked the third-straight season the Paladins had ended a loss to Wofford with 13 points.
The Paladins held a slight advantage in total yards (329-325), but couldn't overcome three costly turnovers, while the Terriers only committed one miscue on the afternoon. Over the past couple of games, Furman has committed eight turnovers, which have led directly to 38 points for the opposition, including a pair of INTs returned for scores.
The Paladins fell to 15-14 against the Terriers since Wofford joined the NCAA Division I ranks in 1997, and now hold a 56-36-7 lead in the all-time series, which began way back in 1889.
Furman quarterback Trey Hedden finished the afternoon connecting on27-of-39 passes for 257 yards, with three INTs and one TD. He was sacked five times in the game.
Northwestern State transfer JT Fayard completed the day by connecting on 18-of-25 passes for 179 yards, with two TDs and one INT for Wofford.
Hedden, who was without three of his top pass-catchers due to injury, settled in on running back Gavin Hall ( 7 rec, 49 yds) and Devin Hester Jr. (6 rec, 82 yds, 1 TD) as his top receiving targets in the passing game.
Hester's 10-yard scoring catch from Hedden in the second quarter was his first touchdown reception in a Furman uniform. Kerry King also hauled in four passes for 50 yards, while Clemson transfer Landyn James made four receptions for 44 yards.
The ground game was led by Hall, who finished his afternoon with 61 yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts, while CJ Nettles rushed for 34 yards on four attempts.
Fayard's favorite receiving option in the contest was Isaiah Scott, who hauled in seven passes for 91 yards, while freshman Colby Alexander made four catches for 45 yards and a TD.
The Terriers were led on the ground by Ihshon Jackson-Anderson, who finished with 75 yards and a TD on 15 attempts. Gerald Modest Jr. finished his day with 51 rushing yards on 11 attempts.
Next up for the Paladins came a battle against another of its arch-rivals, when The Citadel paid a visit to Paladin Stadium on Oct. 25. The Paladins were able to hold on for a 24-14 win over the Bulldogs.
It was the 105th renewal of the SoCon's oldest gridiron rivalry, and it was the Paladin defense that ended up owning the afternoon for the Paladins, and outside of two long passing plays, it was Furman that owned the better end of the proceedings pretty much the entire afternoon en route to a fifth-straight win in the series. It officially now marks the longest streak the Paladins have enjoyed against the Bulldogs since winning nine-straight against The Citadel from 1982-90.
With the 10-point win, the Paladins extended their lead to 67-37-3 in the all-time series between the two.
Furman took a 9-0 lead into the halftime locker room. however, a pair of 46-yard scoring scoring catches in a four-minute span in the third quarter all of the sudden saw the Bulldogs assume the lead, 14-9.
It would, however, be short-lived, as the Paladins responded to retake the lead with 3:30 remaining in the third quarter when Jayquan Smith scored on a two-yard run and added the two-point conversion to make it 17-14.
Then in the fourth quarter, Furman's star freshman wideout Evan James hauled in a 38-yard pass from Trey Hedden and nine plays later, Smith would take the handoff and scampered seven yards off left tackle for the score, giving the Paladins a 24-14 lead following Ian Williams' PAT with 3:21 remaining, which essentially sealed the win for Furman.
It was the 105th renewal of the SoCon's oldest gridiron rivalry, and it was the Paladin defense that ended up owning the afternoon for the Paladins, and outside of two long passing plays, it was Furman that owned the better end of the proceedings pretty much the entire afternoon en route to a fifth-straight win in the series. It officially now marks the longest streak the Paladins have enjoyed against the Bulldogs since winning nine-straight against The Citadel from 1982-90.
With the 10-point win, the Paladins extended their lead to 67-37-3 in the all-time series between the two.
Furman took a 9-0 lead into the halftime locker room. however, a pair of 46-yard scoring scoring catches in a four-minute span in the third quarter all of the sudden saw the Bulldogs assume the lead, 14-9.
It would, however, be short-lived, as the Paladins responded to retake the lead with 3:30 remaining in the third quarter when Jayquan Smith scored on a two-yard run and added the two-point conversion to make it 17-14.
Then in the fourth quarter, Furman's star freshman wideout Evan James hauled in a 38-yard pass from Trey Hedden and nine plays later, Smith would take the handoff and scampered seven yards off left tackle for the score, giving the Paladins a 24-14 lead following Ian Williams' PAT with 3:21 remaining, which essentially sealed the win for Furman.
The Paladins would run into a buzzsaw the next Saturday, as 13th-ranked and eventual league champion Mercer paid a visit to Paladin Stadium to open the month of November. Furman would do as much as they could to stay in the game for about 2.5 quarters, but eventually, the Bears' high-octane attack would be too much to overcome and the Bears posted a second-straight win over Furman under head coach Mike Jacobs, who led the Bears to a second-straight blowout win over the Paladins, 52-28, on a beautiful Fall afternoon at Paladin Stadium.
Freshman sensation quarterback Braden Atkinson completed 28-of-49 passes for 426 yards and four touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, as Mercer claimed its seventh-straight in-season win and 10th-straight SoCon triumph in contiguous seasons, downing Furman, 52-28, Saturday afternoon before 7,867 fans at Paladin Stadium.
The win would see the Bears improve to 7-1 overall and improved to 6-0 in the SoCon, while Furman fell to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in SoCon play, as the Paladins dropped their first SoCon home game of the season.
The win for the Bears was the second-straight in the series in decisive fashion against the Paladins, as Mercer closed out its 2024 SoCon title run by easily defeating Furman, 49-23, in the regular-season finale to claim the program's first conference crown of any type in 92 years.
This season's 24-point at Paladin Stadium now gives the Bears the opportunity to defend their SoCon crown from a year ago, as the win sets up a de facto SoCon title matchup, as the Orange and Black travel to EJ Whitmire Stadium in Cullowhee, N.C., to take on an equally hot Western Carolina team, which claimed its sixth-straight win Saturday evening with a 35-28 win at Chattanooga to improve to 6-3 overall and 5-0 in league action.
Western Carolina has never claimed a SoCon title since joining the league in 1976, while Mercer broke through and won its first SoCon crown just last season after joining the league back in 2014. The winner of that game will likely be the SoCon's lone representative in the FCS postseason.
As for the game, Furman was dominated in every phase, despite the fact that the Paladins jumped out to the early 13-0 lead.
The Bears came back to score 24-unanswered points over the final quarter-and-a-half to take an 11-point lead into the halftime locker room, which included one of the more dominant second quarter performances by an opponent ever witnessed in the 44-year history of the facility.
It marked the second time in a little over a calendar year that the Paladins have yielded 52 points to an opponent on its home turf, and the third time overall, as Furman dropped a 52-7 game at Western Carolina earlier this season. Furman also dropped a 52-20 contest at home to Western Carolina on Oct. 26, 2024.
Atkison, who was the reigning STATS Perform Freshman of the Week, has now completed 57-of-86 passes for 959 yards, with nine TDs and no INTs in the past two weeks. Though he was hit Saturday, he never was sacked by Furman, which entered the contest with the nation's leading pass-rusher, in Joshua Stoneking (12.5 sacks, 18.5 TFL).
Atkinson's favorite target of the game was Adonis McDaniel, who hauled in seven passes for 139 yards and a touchdown, while Adjatay Dabbs turned in his second big performance against the Paladins, hauling in six passes for 117 yards and a touchdown.
Equally impressive was Mercer's ground attack, which amassed 202 yards on 40 attempts in Saturday's win, and was led by another solid effort on the ground by CJ Miller, who finished the night with 111 yards and a pair of scores on 20 rush attempts. He also added three catches for 14 yards, including an 18-yard scoring catch early in the second quarter.
Furman was led in the game by quarterback Trey Hedden, who finished his afternoon connecting on 12-of-18 passes for 155 yards, with two TDs and an INT. Hedden was sacked four times in the game.
Hedden's favorite target was true freshman Evan James, who finished his afternoon with five catches for 39 yards and a score. Ja'Keith Hamilton also hauled in a 64-yard scoring pass on a wide receiver screen from Hedden early in the second half.
Furman true freshman running back CJ Nettles finished the game with his first-career 100-yard rushing effort, highlighted by a 67-yard scoring run on Furman's second possession of the day. Nettles finished the game with 105 yards and a touchdown on 15 rush attempts.
Capping Furman's day filled with highlights made by true freshmen was Caleb Easterling, who returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. It marked the eighth kickoff return of 100 yards or more in program history, including the first since Jerodis Williams took one back for 100 yards in 2012 at Appalachian State (Nov. 10, 2012). It was the first 100-yard for a score in Paladin Stadium since Jerodis Williams' 100-yard kickoff return vs. Western Carolina (Sept. 29, 2012) earlier in that same campaign.
Freshman sensation quarterback Braden Atkinson completed 28-of-49 passes for 426 yards and four touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, as Mercer claimed its seventh-straight in-season win and 10th-straight SoCon triumph in contiguous seasons, downing Furman, 52-28, Saturday afternoon before 7,867 fans at Paladin Stadium.
The win would see the Bears improve to 7-1 overall and improved to 6-0 in the SoCon, while Furman fell to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in SoCon play, as the Paladins dropped their first SoCon home game of the season.
The win for the Bears was the second-straight in the series in decisive fashion against the Paladins, as Mercer closed out its 2024 SoCon title run by easily defeating Furman, 49-23, in the regular-season finale to claim the program's first conference crown of any type in 92 years.
This season's 24-point at Paladin Stadium now gives the Bears the opportunity to defend their SoCon crown from a year ago, as the win sets up a de facto SoCon title matchup, as the Orange and Black travel to EJ Whitmire Stadium in Cullowhee, N.C., to take on an equally hot Western Carolina team, which claimed its sixth-straight win Saturday evening with a 35-28 win at Chattanooga to improve to 6-3 overall and 5-0 in league action.
Western Carolina has never claimed a SoCon title since joining the league in 1976, while Mercer broke through and won its first SoCon crown just last season after joining the league back in 2014. The winner of that game will likely be the SoCon's lone representative in the FCS postseason.
As for the game, Furman was dominated in every phase, despite the fact that the Paladins jumped out to the early 13-0 lead.
The Bears came back to score 24-unanswered points over the final quarter-and-a-half to take an 11-point lead into the halftime locker room, which included one of the more dominant second quarter performances by an opponent ever witnessed in the 44-year history of the facility.
It marked the second time in a little over a calendar year that the Paladins have yielded 52 points to an opponent on its home turf, and the third time overall, as Furman dropped a 52-7 game at Western Carolina earlier this season. Furman also dropped a 52-20 contest at home to Western Carolina on Oct. 26, 2024.
Atkison, who was the reigning STATS Perform Freshman of the Week, has now completed 57-of-86 passes for 959 yards, with nine TDs and no INTs in the past two weeks. Though he was hit Saturday, he never was sacked by Furman, which entered the contest with the nation's leading pass-rusher, in Joshua Stoneking (12.5 sacks, 18.5 TFL).
Atkinson's favorite target of the game was Adonis McDaniel, who hauled in seven passes for 139 yards and a touchdown, while Adjatay Dabbs turned in his second big performance against the Paladins, hauling in six passes for 117 yards and a touchdown.
Equally impressive was Mercer's ground attack, which amassed 202 yards on 40 attempts in Saturday's win, and was led by another solid effort on the ground by CJ Miller, who finished the night with 111 yards and a pair of scores on 20 rush attempts. He also added three catches for 14 yards, including an 18-yard scoring catch early in the second quarter.
Furman was led in the game by quarterback Trey Hedden, who finished his afternoon connecting on 12-of-18 passes for 155 yards, with two TDs and an INT. Hedden was sacked four times in the game.
Hedden's favorite target was true freshman Evan James, who finished his afternoon with five catches for 39 yards and a score. Ja'Keith Hamilton also hauled in a 64-yard scoring pass on a wide receiver screen from Hedden early in the second half.
Furman true freshman running back CJ Nettles finished the game with his first-career 100-yard rushing effort, highlighted by a 67-yard scoring run on Furman's second possession of the day. Nettles finished the game with 105 yards and a touchdown on 15 rush attempts.
Capping Furman's day filled with highlights made by true freshmen was Caleb Easterling, who returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. It marked the eighth kickoff return of 100 yards or more in program history, including the first since Jerodis Williams took one back for 100 yards in 2012 at Appalachian State (Nov. 10, 2012). It was the first 100-yard for a score in Paladin Stadium since Jerodis Williams' 100-yard kickoff return vs. Western Carolina (Sept. 29, 2012) earlier in that same campaign.
Defensively, Mercer sacked Hedden four times and allowed Furman just eight first downs the entire afternoon, holding the Paladins to just 2.9 yards-per-rush. Linebackers Drew Clare and Julian Fox led the Bears with five tackles apiece, with Fox adding a sack and a tackle-for-loss.
Things didn't get much better for the Paladins a week later when it visited Chattanooga for the final SoCon road game of the season, as the Mocs broken open the game in the second half, outscoring the Paladins 24-7 to come up with the 45-28 win over Furman.
True freshman quarterback Battle Alberson passed for 277 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 85 yards in his first career start, as he led a Chattanooga offense that racked up 529 yards in a 45-28 win over Furman Saturday afternoon before 6,306 fans at Finley Stadium.
Alberson finished the day connecting on 15-of-23 passes for 277 yards and passing scores of 25, 66, 47 and 25 yards to highlight his first-career start. He finished the day with 362 yards of total offense. The true freshman rushed for 85 yards on just seven attempts.
The Mocs were balanced on the offensive side of the ball, posting 277 yards through the air and another 252 on the ground. The Mocs out-gained Furman 529-368 in total yards, including 252-72 on the ground.
The Mocs' ground efforts were led by Ryan Ingram, who finished with 94 yards on 22 attempts. Justus Durant also added 65 yards on 16 attempts.
Josh Williams finished as the Mocs' leading target in the passing game, hauling in six passes for 116 yards and one TD. Markell Quick added three catches for 70 yards and a score.
Trey Hedden finished the day by connecting on 19-of-27 passes for 296 yards with a pair of TDs and two INTS. His favorite target was true freshman wideout Evan James, who hauled in five passes for 146 yards and a touchdown.
Furman won the toss and deferred to the second half. After Chattanooga drove it down to the Furman 9 on its first possession of the day, Raleigh Herbert came around the corner and stopped Justus Durant short on a 4th-and-1 play to allow the Paladin offense to take over deep in their own territory and drove it 91 yards for the game's opening points with Ben Croasdale racing across the goal line from four yards out to make it a 7-0 lead with 2:20 remaining in the opening quarter.
The key play in the scoring drive was a 61-yard connection between Trey Hedden and Evan James to get the Paladin offense deep into Mocs territory at the Chattanooga 21.
Chattanooga would get on the board on its ensuing drive to tie the game early in the second quarter, driving 75 yards in 10 plays following a 25-yard scoring toss from Battle Alberson to tight end Landon Strickland to tie the game 7-7 with 13:40 remaining in the half.
Furman's next drive would once again result in points, as the Paladins drove it 69 yards in 10 plays to make it a 14-7 game with 7:17 left in the half after CJ Nettles scampered in from three yards out to give the Paladins the lead back.
On its next possession, Chattanooga produced its first big chunk play of the afternoon, and it resulted in the game-tying score, as Alberson found Josh Williams over the middle for a 66-yard scoring strike to make its 14-14 game with 3:29 left in the half.
Furman would strike back just before the half, beginning with the kickoff return from true freshman Caleb Easterling. After racing 100 yards for a score last week against Mercer, Easterling set up Furman's final score before the half, returning the Mocs kickoff 76 yards down the sidelines to set up the Paladins at the UTC 23.
Five plays later, Hedden found Kerry King on a 9-yard scoring strike with just under two minutes left in the half to make it 21-14.
It didn't take the Mocs long to tie the game, as Alberson tossed his third scoring pass of the half when he found Markell Quick for a 47-yard TD with 46 seconds remaining in the half, tying the game 21-21.
Chattanooga's squib quick backfired and it gave the Paladins a chance to take a lead into the locker room. However, the Paladins lined up for a short chip shot field goal, which was blocked by the Mocs to preserve the tie as the two teams entered the halftime locker room.
On Furman's first drive of the second half, Chattanooga took the lead on the game's first turnover as Ky Tayo picked off a Hedden pass and returned it 57 yards for a score to make it a 28-21 Mocs lead with 13:01 remaining in the third quarter.
Following a Furman punt, Paladin defensive lineman Caldwell Bussey went down with what appeared to be a serious injury with just under 11 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Later in the drive, the Mocs would be faced with a 4th-and-7 and would convert it to keep a drive alive just inside the red zone. Joshua Stoneking came up with a big tackle-for-loss on a 3rd-and-1 play at the Furman 19, forcing the Mocs to settle for a 31-yard Jude Kelley field goal, as the Mocs increased their lead to 10, at 31-21, with 4:18 remaining in the third quarter.
Furman would answer back on its next possession, as Hedden found James for a 48-yard scoring strike with just under three minutes remaining in the third, as the Paladins pulled back to within three, at 31-28.
On Chattanooga's next possession, the Mocs punched it in once again to restore a 10-point lead on a 1-yard scoring plunge from Journey Wyche to make it a 38-28 game with 7:24 remaining.
The game-changing would come on Furman's next possession, as Hedden found tight end Joshua Burrell over the middle for 29 yards, however, as he turned his head to go up field, Burrell was hit immediately by Kam Baah-Slay, knocking the ball in the air and the ball was recovered by UTC's Kaelin Drakeford at the Furman 44 to come up with the Mocs' second turnover of the afternoon.
Six plays later, Chattanooga tacked on its final score of the day, as Alberson tossed his fourth scoring pass of the afternoon, finding Wyche out of the backfield for a 25-yard scoring pass to increase UTC's lead to 17 with 2:49 remaining after Jude Kelley's PAT.
The Paladins got the ball back once more, however, Hedden's pass was initially broken up by Kam Baah-Slay and off the carom, Amanuel Dickson officially ended the scoring threat and seal Chattanooga's fifth win of the season.
True freshman quarterback Battle Alberson passed for 277 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 85 yards in his first career start, as he led a Chattanooga offense that racked up 529 yards in a 45-28 win over Furman Saturday afternoon before 6,306 fans at Finley Stadium.
Alberson finished the day connecting on 15-of-23 passes for 277 yards and passing scores of 25, 66, 47 and 25 yards to highlight his first-career start. He finished the day with 362 yards of total offense. The true freshman rushed for 85 yards on just seven attempts.
The Mocs were balanced on the offensive side of the ball, posting 277 yards through the air and another 252 on the ground. The Mocs out-gained Furman 529-368 in total yards, including 252-72 on the ground.
The Mocs' ground efforts were led by Ryan Ingram, who finished with 94 yards on 22 attempts. Justus Durant also added 65 yards on 16 attempts.
Josh Williams finished as the Mocs' leading target in the passing game, hauling in six passes for 116 yards and one TD. Markell Quick added three catches for 70 yards and a score.
Trey Hedden finished the day by connecting on 19-of-27 passes for 296 yards with a pair of TDs and two INTS. His favorite target was true freshman wideout Evan James, who hauled in five passes for 146 yards and a touchdown.
Furman won the toss and deferred to the second half. After Chattanooga drove it down to the Furman 9 on its first possession of the day, Raleigh Herbert came around the corner and stopped Justus Durant short on a 4th-and-1 play to allow the Paladin offense to take over deep in their own territory and drove it 91 yards for the game's opening points with Ben Croasdale racing across the goal line from four yards out to make it a 7-0 lead with 2:20 remaining in the opening quarter.
The key play in the scoring drive was a 61-yard connection between Trey Hedden and Evan James to get the Paladin offense deep into Mocs territory at the Chattanooga 21.
Chattanooga would get on the board on its ensuing drive to tie the game early in the second quarter, driving 75 yards in 10 plays following a 25-yard scoring toss from Battle Alberson to tight end Landon Strickland to tie the game 7-7 with 13:40 remaining in the half.
Furman's next drive would once again result in points, as the Paladins drove it 69 yards in 10 plays to make it a 14-7 game with 7:17 left in the half after CJ Nettles scampered in from three yards out to give the Paladins the lead back.
On its next possession, Chattanooga produced its first big chunk play of the afternoon, and it resulted in the game-tying score, as Alberson found Josh Williams over the middle for a 66-yard scoring strike to make its 14-14 game with 3:29 left in the half.
Furman would strike back just before the half, beginning with the kickoff return from true freshman Caleb Easterling. After racing 100 yards for a score last week against Mercer, Easterling set up Furman's final score before the half, returning the Mocs kickoff 76 yards down the sidelines to set up the Paladins at the UTC 23.
Five plays later, Hedden found Kerry King on a 9-yard scoring strike with just under two minutes left in the half to make it 21-14.
It didn't take the Mocs long to tie the game, as Alberson tossed his third scoring pass of the half when he found Markell Quick for a 47-yard TD with 46 seconds remaining in the half, tying the game 21-21.
Chattanooga's squib quick backfired and it gave the Paladins a chance to take a lead into the locker room. However, the Paladins lined up for a short chip shot field goal, which was blocked by the Mocs to preserve the tie as the two teams entered the halftime locker room.
On Furman's first drive of the second half, Chattanooga took the lead on the game's first turnover as Ky Tayo picked off a Hedden pass and returned it 57 yards for a score to make it a 28-21 Mocs lead with 13:01 remaining in the third quarter.
Following a Furman punt, Paladin defensive lineman Caldwell Bussey went down with what appeared to be a serious injury with just under 11 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Later in the drive, the Mocs would be faced with a 4th-and-7 and would convert it to keep a drive alive just inside the red zone. Joshua Stoneking came up with a big tackle-for-loss on a 3rd-and-1 play at the Furman 19, forcing the Mocs to settle for a 31-yard Jude Kelley field goal, as the Mocs increased their lead to 10, at 31-21, with 4:18 remaining in the third quarter.
Furman would answer back on its next possession, as Hedden found James for a 48-yard scoring strike with just under three minutes remaining in the third, as the Paladins pulled back to within three, at 31-28.
On Chattanooga's next possession, the Mocs punched it in once again to restore a 10-point lead on a 1-yard scoring plunge from Journey Wyche to make it a 38-28 game with 7:24 remaining.
The game-changing would come on Furman's next possession, as Hedden found tight end Joshua Burrell over the middle for 29 yards, however, as he turned his head to go up field, Burrell was hit immediately by Kam Baah-Slay, knocking the ball in the air and the ball was recovered by UTC's Kaelin Drakeford at the Furman 44 to come up with the Mocs' second turnover of the afternoon.
Six plays later, Chattanooga tacked on its final score of the day, as Alberson tossed his fourth scoring pass of the afternoon, finding Wyche out of the backfield for a 25-yard scoring pass to increase UTC's lead to 17 with 2:49 remaining after Jude Kelley's PAT.
The Paladins got the ball back once more, however, Hedden's pass was initially broken up by Kam Baah-Slay and off the carom, Amanuel Dickson officially ended the scoring threat and seal Chattanooga's fifth win of the season.
Furman's final home game of the 2025 football season would also mark its final Southern Conference campaign, and with a win over VMI, the Paladins would have a chance to, at worst, secure at least a .500 overall record, as well as a .500 record in league play to close out the season.
The Paladins would do just that, avenging what had been a 21-17 loss to the Keydets a year earlier, as it would be a record-setting afternoon for freshman wideout Evan James and the Paladins, who coasted to a 32-14 win in the final home game of the season.
Despite missing three games this season, Jerry Rice Award candidate Evan James capped his rookie season in front of the home faithful at Paladin Stadium in style, as he hauled in nine passes for 70 yards and a pair of scores. He needed just two catches and only nine receiving yards to set new freshman receiving marks. He now has 59 catches for 760 yards and six TDs with one game remaining in his freshman campaign next Saturday at Clemson.
Ja'Keith Hamilton nearly matched James for the top receiving performance, hauling in eight passes for 97 yards.
Furman also finished the day with a season-high 174 rushing yards, which was bolstered by strong performances from Ben Croasdale and CJ Nettles. Nettles finished the day with 14 rushes for 70 yards and a score, while Nettles finished his afternoon with 12 rushes for 54 yards.
The Paladins finished with a 204-yard advantage in total offense (448-244) and owned a 26-play (85-59) edge in total snaps. VMI registered 76 of its 244 yards of total offense on its final scoring drive, while Furman's offense finished the day without turning the ball over.
Defensively, the Paladins were led by defensive back Taylen Blalock, who bookended his strong season at Paladin Stadium with a pair of strong performances from teams from the Commonwealth of Virginia, starting it off with a Saturday that scratched the first points of the season on a pick-six against William & Mary, and finishing it off on Senior Day in front of the home faithful with nine total tackles and 42 punt return yards, as well as a kick return for 11 yards.
Redshirt freshman defensive end Joshua Stoneking finished his day with six tackles, one tackle-for-loss and one sack. Stoneking brought his season totals to 73 tackles, 20.0 tackles-for-loss, and 13.5 sacks.
VMI won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. VMI would gain 15 yards on their first pass of the day and then gained four on Chandler Wilson second pass completion of the day.
After Joshua Stoneking broke up the next play to force a 3rd-and-6 situation, Wilson scrambled for a gain of seven yards and a first down on the next play to reach just inside Furman territory. An incompletion and a short gain on a pass forced another third down, and this time on third down Wilson was flushed from the pocket for no gain, forcing a VMI punt.
After one first down on its opening drive of the afternoon, Furman was forced to do likewise, as each team came up empty offensive on their respective opening drives of the contest.
Furman’s first attempt to put points on the board came from the leg of senior place-kicker Ian Williams, however, his 58-yard attempt, which had plenty of distance, was just wide to the right, leaving the score tied, 0-0, with 5:33 remaining in the opening quarter of play.
Furman would eventually draw first blood in the second quarter Hedden found James on a short flip pass for an eight-yard score, with James doing most of the work with his legs before running over a defender at the goal line to give the Paladins a 7-0 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the half.
The short scoring pass capped off a 68-yard scoring drive. The drive was set up by Furman gaining the only turnover of the day on a fumble recovery by Billy Lewis.
The Keydets answered on the ensuing drive, as Leo Boehling finished off the nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive with an 18-yard run up the middle, gashing the Paladin defense for the final 33 yards of the scoring drive, which tied the contest, 7-7, with 1:15 remaining in the half.
Furman made the most of the remaining time in the half, and it would be an acrobatic scoring catch from James, as he leapt over a VMI defensive back and touched a foot down to complete the 17-yard scoring catch with just 35 seconds remaining. After a pair of penalties against VMI on Furman's PAT attempt, the Paladins opted to go for two and the conversion attempt was successful by Jayquan Smith to make it 15-7. That would remain the score as the two teams entered the halftime locker room.
Smith would be responsible for the lone points for either team in the third quarter, as he capped an impressive 12-play, 85-yard drive with an eight-yard scoring run to give the Paladins a 22-7 lead with just under nine minutes remaining in the third.
Furman tacked on 10 points in the final frame, with Ben Croasdale scoring on a 1-yard plunge and Ian Williams knocking through a 51-yard field goal to increase Furman's lead to 32-7 with 8:15 remaining in the game. VMI's backup quarterback Nana Utsey added the final touchdown of the day, scoring on a 17-yard scramble with 32 seconds left to set the final score, at 32-14.
The Paladins would do just that, avenging what had been a 21-17 loss to the Keydets a year earlier, as it would be a record-setting afternoon for freshman wideout Evan James and the Paladins, who coasted to a 32-14 win in the final home game of the season.
Despite missing three games this season, Jerry Rice Award candidate Evan James capped his rookie season in front of the home faithful at Paladin Stadium in style, as he hauled in nine passes for 70 yards and a pair of scores. He needed just two catches and only nine receiving yards to set new freshman receiving marks. He now has 59 catches for 760 yards and six TDs with one game remaining in his freshman campaign next Saturday at Clemson.
Ja'Keith Hamilton nearly matched James for the top receiving performance, hauling in eight passes for 97 yards.
Furman also finished the day with a season-high 174 rushing yards, which was bolstered by strong performances from Ben Croasdale and CJ Nettles. Nettles finished the day with 14 rushes for 70 yards and a score, while Nettles finished his afternoon with 12 rushes for 54 yards.
The Paladins finished with a 204-yard advantage in total offense (448-244) and owned a 26-play (85-59) edge in total snaps. VMI registered 76 of its 244 yards of total offense on its final scoring drive, while Furman's offense finished the day without turning the ball over.
Defensively, the Paladins were led by defensive back Taylen Blalock, who bookended his strong season at Paladin Stadium with a pair of strong performances from teams from the Commonwealth of Virginia, starting it off with a Saturday that scratched the first points of the season on a pick-six against William & Mary, and finishing it off on Senior Day in front of the home faithful with nine total tackles and 42 punt return yards, as well as a kick return for 11 yards.
Redshirt freshman defensive end Joshua Stoneking finished his day with six tackles, one tackle-for-loss and one sack. Stoneking brought his season totals to 73 tackles, 20.0 tackles-for-loss, and 13.5 sacks.
VMI won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. VMI would gain 15 yards on their first pass of the day and then gained four on Chandler Wilson second pass completion of the day.
After Joshua Stoneking broke up the next play to force a 3rd-and-6 situation, Wilson scrambled for a gain of seven yards and a first down on the next play to reach just inside Furman territory. An incompletion and a short gain on a pass forced another third down, and this time on third down Wilson was flushed from the pocket for no gain, forcing a VMI punt.
After one first down on its opening drive of the afternoon, Furman was forced to do likewise, as each team came up empty offensive on their respective opening drives of the contest.
Furman’s first attempt to put points on the board came from the leg of senior place-kicker Ian Williams, however, his 58-yard attempt, which had plenty of distance, was just wide to the right, leaving the score tied, 0-0, with 5:33 remaining in the opening quarter of play.
Furman would eventually draw first blood in the second quarter Hedden found James on a short flip pass for an eight-yard score, with James doing most of the work with his legs before running over a defender at the goal line to give the Paladins a 7-0 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the half.
The short scoring pass capped off a 68-yard scoring drive. The drive was set up by Furman gaining the only turnover of the day on a fumble recovery by Billy Lewis.
The Keydets answered on the ensuing drive, as Leo Boehling finished off the nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive with an 18-yard run up the middle, gashing the Paladin defense for the final 33 yards of the scoring drive, which tied the contest, 7-7, with 1:15 remaining in the half.
Furman made the most of the remaining time in the half, and it would be an acrobatic scoring catch from James, as he leapt over a VMI defensive back and touched a foot down to complete the 17-yard scoring catch with just 35 seconds remaining. After a pair of penalties against VMI on Furman's PAT attempt, the Paladins opted to go for two and the conversion attempt was successful by Jayquan Smith to make it 15-7. That would remain the score as the two teams entered the halftime locker room.
Smith would be responsible for the lone points for either team in the third quarter, as he capped an impressive 12-play, 85-yard drive with an eight-yard scoring run to give the Paladins a 22-7 lead with just under nine minutes remaining in the third.
Furman tacked on 10 points in the final frame, with Ben Croasdale scoring on a 1-yard plunge and Ian Williams knocking through a 51-yard field goal to increase Furman's lead to 32-7 with 8:15 remaining in the game. VMI's backup quarterback Nana Utsey added the final touchdown of the day, scoring on a 17-yard scramble with 32 seconds left to set the final score, at 32-14.
The final game of the regular-season would see Furman travel to FBS power conference foe Clemson and though the result was all but inevitable, the Paladins managed to put on a solid showing in the 45-10 setback against the bowl-bound Tigers.
Clemson senior quarterback Cade Klubnik passed for 159 yards and two scores, while true freshman backup signal-caller Chris Denson added 106 rushing yards with a passing TD and a rushing TD, as the Tigers became bowl eligible with a 45-10 win over Furman on Military Appreciation Day at Memorial Stadium.
The loss would see the Paladins end their 120th football season as a program with a 6-6 overall record and a 4-4 mark inside league play.
Klubnik finished his final night in front of the home faithful connecting 9-of-15 passes for 159 yards and a pair of scores to notch his 25th all-time win as Clemson's starting signal-caller. The senior helped facilitate an offense that ended the night owning a 456-272 edge in total offense. The Tigers were efficient and balanced on offense, rolling up 237 yards and four TDs through the air, while posting 219 yards and a pair of scores on the ground.
Denson, a heralded freshman signal-caller out of the state of Florida by way of Plant City HS, finished his night rushing for 106 yards and a score on just six carries, which included the longest run of the night, covering a distance of 50 yards on Clemson's penultimate scoring drive of the evening. The Sunshine State product also added a perfect 4-for-4 passing night for 22 yards, including a four-yard scoring strike in the fourth quarter.
Furman sophomore quarterback Trey Hedden connected on 22-of-38 passes for 179 yards and a score, and in doing so, set a new Furman record for single-season passing yards (2,967), which was previously set by former Paladin legend Ingle Martin in Furman's run the FCS Semifinals in 2005, passing for 2,959 yards in 14 games.
Senior graduate transfer Kerry King hauled in six passes for 71 yards, while freshman sensation Evan James added six grabs for 36 yards and had Furman's lone touchdown reception of the evening on a 19-yard catch off a delivery from Hedden in the third quarter.
For the second-straight season, Furman was one of the youngest football teams in the Southern Conference, and at times that showed, while at others, it revealed what a bright future might be in store if head coach Clay Hendrix and staff are able to convince this group to stay together.
There is a bit of a different feeling, too, when this game--"the money game"--is played at the end of the season rather than at the start of one.
There was a bit of a dent in the confidence of a young team in the 2024 season, which the team struggled to shake for much of the remainder of last season after opening up with a 76-0 loss at Ole Miss. The 45-10 loss to Clemson will give the staff and players film to learn from and get better from during the off-season, and the confidence of knowing they have come a long way as a football since that 2024 season opener in Oxford.
"Well I think each game is a little different and I think the Ole Miss game no matter where we would have played them...with their talent and who they were...But now we're in a different place and we're such a different team now than we were in that first game a year ago and what I am most proud of with our guys is the progress we've made and we aren't where we want to be and we should have won a couple more games in my opinion and I thought we should have won a couple more last year," head coach Clay Hendrix said following Furman's loss to Clemson.
Two young players that are a part of those "positives" on both sides of the football slated to return are both wide receiver Evan James and defensive end Joshua Stoneking. Stoneking had an All-America worthy season as a redshirt freshman and not only has Furman come a long way, he himself added to what coach Hendrix talked about as a whole...he's seen a lot of improvement from the time he played in his first collegiate game as a true freshman in 2024 at Ole Miss until the 2025 season finale game at Clemson. Stoneking talked about what he gained most out of games such as these.
"It's 100% about getting experience and my freshman year I just played against VMI in garbage time and my very first full game against Ole Miss and it's experience and helping me build up my confidence and that definitely helped me for this game," Joshua Stoneking said after the game.
Stoneking finished the night with six tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss and one sack. He finishes off the 2025 campaign with one of the best ever individual campaigns by a Paladin defensive lineman. He led the Paladins with a remarkable 79 tackles--remarkable because that's an abnormal number of tackles for a defensive lineman--to go with 23.0 tackles-for-loss and 14.5 sacks.
His 23.0 tackles-for-loss rank as the third-most in program history in a single-season, trailing only Kelly Fletcher's 29 TFLs in 1989 and Bryan Dailer's 25.0 TFLs in 1997.
Stoneking's 14.5 sacks rank him tied for fourth most in a single season in Furman football history along with the aforementioned Fletcher, who also posted 14.5 in 1988.
On offense, Furman is slated to return Trey Hedden under center, who set the single-season passing yards total, as mentioned below, as well as dynamic wideout Evan James, who hauled in Furman's lone score of the night and finished off a record-setting freshman campaign with 65 catches for 796 yards and seven TDs, averaging 12.2 YPR.
Furman's six wins means it finishes the season at .500 or better for the 39th time in the past 48 seasons, and the last two times the Paladins have won six games in a campaign under Clay Hendrix (2018 and '21), the Paladins have gone on to win eight more games the ensuing season.
Furman won the toss and deferred. Clemson center Ryan Linthicum gained a yard on the first carry, Clemson proceeded to move the ball right down the field, reaching the Furman 25.
Furman redshirt freshman defensive tackle Garrison Butler got good pressure up the middle force a 3rd-and-2 and Furman stopped Adam Randall for a loss of two on the next play forcing a Nolan Hauser 45-yard field goal and a 3-0 Clemson lead with 12:17 left in the opening quarter.
Furman took the ball for the first time in the game at its own 25 following Hauser’s touchback. The Paladins would get two yards on a Ben Croasdale rush on first down before a completion on 2nd-and-8 for no gain and a pass breakup by Aveion Terrell on third down that forced Furman to call on specialist Ian Williams to come on and punt the ball away.
On Clemson’s next drive, the Tigers converted a 4th-and-7 to keep the drive and after reaching the Furman 22 on a Cade Klubnik four-yard run, the senior signal-caller found senior wideout Antonio Williams for a 22-yard score and a 10-0 Clemson lead with 8:34 left in the opening quarter.
Clemson made it 17-0 when Tyler Brown scored a 21-yard touchdown on a reverse to make it 17-0, as the Tigers covered 80 yards in five plays with 4:43 remaining in the first.
Joshua Stoneking’s 14th-and-a-half sack and 21st tackle-for-loss on the season forced Clemson’s first punt of the night and gave Furman its best field position at its own 39.
Furman moved inside Clemson territory for the first time on its next drive, however, had to settle for an Ian Williams 53-yard field goal attempt, which sailed wide left. Clemson would take a 17-0 lead into the second quarter, and Furman facing a 4th-and-2 at its own 47. Hedden was pressured tackled short of the yard marker to make and Furman turnover it over on downs at its own 46.
Two plays later, Klubnik found Williams for their second touchdown connection of the evening on a 35-yard hookup and a 24-0 Clemson lead with 14:15 left in the half,
On Furman’s next possession, TJ Parker came through with a strip-sack on Hedden on a 3rd-and-5 and the Tigers took over on the Furman 39. With 12:15 remaining the Tigers made a quarterback, as Klubnik exited and Chris Vizzina entered.
On Vizzina’s first play, Furman committed a facemask infraction to give the Tigers the ball at the 23 following the penalty. Stoneking recorded his 22nd tackle-for-loss on the season on the next play for a loss of four years, and after Clemson gained 13 yards on the next play, faced a 4th-and-1 at the Furman 14, but Adam Randall stopped for no gain, and the Paladins took over on downs.
Hedden was intercepted on the ensuing drive by Clemson linebacker Sammy Brown, who returned it to the Furman 22, setting up the Tigers offense in great field position once again. Six plays later the Tigers made it 31-0 on a Christian Betancur reception from Vizzina with 6:48 to play in the opening half.
Furman’s lone points of the half came with half-a-minute left, as Ian Williams booted through a 49-yard field goal to make it a 31-3 game.
In the second half, Furman drew first blood when Hedden found Evan James on a 19-yard scoring strike with 3:49 left in the third, making it a 31-10 Clemson lead. That’s how the two teams would enter the fourth quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Furman drove inside Clemson territory once again, however, Ian Williams missed his second field goal of the night—this time from 41 yards—as Clemson's 21-point advantage stayed intact with 10:18 remaining.
Midway through the fourth quarter Clemson freshman quarterback Chris Denson found tight end Logan Brooking for a touchdown, making it a 38-10 contest with 7:45 left. The drive needed just five plays to cover 75 yards, with Denson gaining 71 of those yards with his legs.
Denson and the Tigers tacked on one more score with nine seconds left on a 10-yard scamper before Furman's Devin Hester Jr. returned the kickoff 30 yards to his own 35 on Clemson's ensuing kickoff with three seconds remaining. Furman backup quarterback Carson Jones took a knee on the first play from scrimmage to run off the remaining three seconds on the clock.
The season was one that was one that Paladin fans can look back on and be proud of, but as it has already been revealed at other programs around the league, the first month after the season can be somewhat tumultuous, as guys begin to let their intentions be known as far as whether or not their future includes staying where they are, or moving on to newer and perceived better opportunities.
For Furman, it has already seen three key offensive starters make their way into the transfer portal, in sophomore quarterback Trey Hedden, record-setting freshman wideout Evan James, as well as other leading receivers Ja'Keith Hamilton and Ethan Harris.
Hedden finished out his two seasons as Furman's quarterback connecting on 287-of-420 passes for 4,734 yards, with 30 TDs and 22 INTs.
Clemson senior quarterback Cade Klubnik passed for 159 yards and two scores, while true freshman backup signal-caller Chris Denson added 106 rushing yards with a passing TD and a rushing TD, as the Tigers became bowl eligible with a 45-10 win over Furman on Military Appreciation Day at Memorial Stadium.
The loss would see the Paladins end their 120th football season as a program with a 6-6 overall record and a 4-4 mark inside league play.
Klubnik finished his final night in front of the home faithful connecting 9-of-15 passes for 159 yards and a pair of scores to notch his 25th all-time win as Clemson's starting signal-caller. The senior helped facilitate an offense that ended the night owning a 456-272 edge in total offense. The Tigers were efficient and balanced on offense, rolling up 237 yards and four TDs through the air, while posting 219 yards and a pair of scores on the ground.
Denson, a heralded freshman signal-caller out of the state of Florida by way of Plant City HS, finished his night rushing for 106 yards and a score on just six carries, which included the longest run of the night, covering a distance of 50 yards on Clemson's penultimate scoring drive of the evening. The Sunshine State product also added a perfect 4-for-4 passing night for 22 yards, including a four-yard scoring strike in the fourth quarter.
Furman sophomore quarterback Trey Hedden connected on 22-of-38 passes for 179 yards and a score, and in doing so, set a new Furman record for single-season passing yards (2,967), which was previously set by former Paladin legend Ingle Martin in Furman's run the FCS Semifinals in 2005, passing for 2,959 yards in 14 games.
Senior graduate transfer Kerry King hauled in six passes for 71 yards, while freshman sensation Evan James added six grabs for 36 yards and had Furman's lone touchdown reception of the evening on a 19-yard catch off a delivery from Hedden in the third quarter.
For the second-straight season, Furman was one of the youngest football teams in the Southern Conference, and at times that showed, while at others, it revealed what a bright future might be in store if head coach Clay Hendrix and staff are able to convince this group to stay together.
There is a bit of a different feeling, too, when this game--"the money game"--is played at the end of the season rather than at the start of one.
There was a bit of a dent in the confidence of a young team in the 2024 season, which the team struggled to shake for much of the remainder of last season after opening up with a 76-0 loss at Ole Miss. The 45-10 loss to Clemson will give the staff and players film to learn from and get better from during the off-season, and the confidence of knowing they have come a long way as a football since that 2024 season opener in Oxford.
"Well I think each game is a little different and I think the Ole Miss game no matter where we would have played them...with their talent and who they were...But now we're in a different place and we're such a different team now than we were in that first game a year ago and what I am most proud of with our guys is the progress we've made and we aren't where we want to be and we should have won a couple more games in my opinion and I thought we should have won a couple more last year," head coach Clay Hendrix said following Furman's loss to Clemson.
Two young players that are a part of those "positives" on both sides of the football slated to return are both wide receiver Evan James and defensive end Joshua Stoneking. Stoneking had an All-America worthy season as a redshirt freshman and not only has Furman come a long way, he himself added to what coach Hendrix talked about as a whole...he's seen a lot of improvement from the time he played in his first collegiate game as a true freshman in 2024 at Ole Miss until the 2025 season finale game at Clemson. Stoneking talked about what he gained most out of games such as these.
"It's 100% about getting experience and my freshman year I just played against VMI in garbage time and my very first full game against Ole Miss and it's experience and helping me build up my confidence and that definitely helped me for this game," Joshua Stoneking said after the game.
Stoneking finished the night with six tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss and one sack. He finishes off the 2025 campaign with one of the best ever individual campaigns by a Paladin defensive lineman. He led the Paladins with a remarkable 79 tackles--remarkable because that's an abnormal number of tackles for a defensive lineman--to go with 23.0 tackles-for-loss and 14.5 sacks.
His 23.0 tackles-for-loss rank as the third-most in program history in a single-season, trailing only Kelly Fletcher's 29 TFLs in 1989 and Bryan Dailer's 25.0 TFLs in 1997.
Stoneking's 14.5 sacks rank him tied for fourth most in a single season in Furman football history along with the aforementioned Fletcher, who also posted 14.5 in 1988.
On offense, Furman is slated to return Trey Hedden under center, who set the single-season passing yards total, as mentioned below, as well as dynamic wideout Evan James, who hauled in Furman's lone score of the night and finished off a record-setting freshman campaign with 65 catches for 796 yards and seven TDs, averaging 12.2 YPR.
Furman's six wins means it finishes the season at .500 or better for the 39th time in the past 48 seasons, and the last two times the Paladins have won six games in a campaign under Clay Hendrix (2018 and '21), the Paladins have gone on to win eight more games the ensuing season.
Furman won the toss and deferred. Clemson center Ryan Linthicum gained a yard on the first carry, Clemson proceeded to move the ball right down the field, reaching the Furman 25.
Furman redshirt freshman defensive tackle Garrison Butler got good pressure up the middle force a 3rd-and-2 and Furman stopped Adam Randall for a loss of two on the next play forcing a Nolan Hauser 45-yard field goal and a 3-0 Clemson lead with 12:17 left in the opening quarter.
Furman took the ball for the first time in the game at its own 25 following Hauser’s touchback. The Paladins would get two yards on a Ben Croasdale rush on first down before a completion on 2nd-and-8 for no gain and a pass breakup by Aveion Terrell on third down that forced Furman to call on specialist Ian Williams to come on and punt the ball away.
On Clemson’s next drive, the Tigers converted a 4th-and-7 to keep the drive and after reaching the Furman 22 on a Cade Klubnik four-yard run, the senior signal-caller found senior wideout Antonio Williams for a 22-yard score and a 10-0 Clemson lead with 8:34 left in the opening quarter.
Clemson made it 17-0 when Tyler Brown scored a 21-yard touchdown on a reverse to make it 17-0, as the Tigers covered 80 yards in five plays with 4:43 remaining in the first.
Joshua Stoneking’s 14th-and-a-half sack and 21st tackle-for-loss on the season forced Clemson’s first punt of the night and gave Furman its best field position at its own 39.
Furman moved inside Clemson territory for the first time on its next drive, however, had to settle for an Ian Williams 53-yard field goal attempt, which sailed wide left. Clemson would take a 17-0 lead into the second quarter, and Furman facing a 4th-and-2 at its own 47. Hedden was pressured tackled short of the yard marker to make and Furman turnover it over on downs at its own 46.
Two plays later, Klubnik found Williams for their second touchdown connection of the evening on a 35-yard hookup and a 24-0 Clemson lead with 14:15 left in the half,
On Furman’s next possession, TJ Parker came through with a strip-sack on Hedden on a 3rd-and-5 and the Tigers took over on the Furman 39. With 12:15 remaining the Tigers made a quarterback, as Klubnik exited and Chris Vizzina entered.
On Vizzina’s first play, Furman committed a facemask infraction to give the Tigers the ball at the 23 following the penalty. Stoneking recorded his 22nd tackle-for-loss on the season on the next play for a loss of four years, and after Clemson gained 13 yards on the next play, faced a 4th-and-1 at the Furman 14, but Adam Randall stopped for no gain, and the Paladins took over on downs.
Hedden was intercepted on the ensuing drive by Clemson linebacker Sammy Brown, who returned it to the Furman 22, setting up the Tigers offense in great field position once again. Six plays later the Tigers made it 31-0 on a Christian Betancur reception from Vizzina with 6:48 to play in the opening half.
Furman’s lone points of the half came with half-a-minute left, as Ian Williams booted through a 49-yard field goal to make it a 31-3 game.
In the second half, Furman drew first blood when Hedden found Evan James on a 19-yard scoring strike with 3:49 left in the third, making it a 31-10 Clemson lead. That’s how the two teams would enter the fourth quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Furman drove inside Clemson territory once again, however, Ian Williams missed his second field goal of the night—this time from 41 yards—as Clemson's 21-point advantage stayed intact with 10:18 remaining.
Midway through the fourth quarter Clemson freshman quarterback Chris Denson found tight end Logan Brooking for a touchdown, making it a 38-10 contest with 7:45 left. The drive needed just five plays to cover 75 yards, with Denson gaining 71 of those yards with his legs.
Denson and the Tigers tacked on one more score with nine seconds left on a 10-yard scamper before Furman's Devin Hester Jr. returned the kickoff 30 yards to his own 35 on Clemson's ensuing kickoff with three seconds remaining. Furman backup quarterback Carson Jones took a knee on the first play from scrimmage to run off the remaining three seconds on the clock.
The season was one that was one that Paladin fans can look back on and be proud of, but as it has already been revealed at other programs around the league, the first month after the season can be somewhat tumultuous, as guys begin to let their intentions be known as far as whether or not their future includes staying where they are, or moving on to newer and perceived better opportunities.
For Furman, it has already seen three key offensive starters make their way into the transfer portal, in sophomore quarterback Trey Hedden, record-setting freshman wideout Evan James, as well as other leading receivers Ja'Keith Hamilton and Ethan Harris.
Hedden finished out his two seasons as Furman's quarterback connecting on 287-of-420 passes for 4,734 yards, with 30 TDs and 22 INTs.
The final two blows to the team in terms of players entering the transfer portal from the offensive side of the ball, would be offensive lineman Luke Petit, who opted to spend his graduate year seeking out a better paying opportunity, and his departure was more of an expected departure by the coaching staff. Running back Gavin Hall was the final player to announce his intent to depart from the offense.
On defense, Furman has had less action entering the transfer portal, but there are some significant departures, with Taylan Blaylock officially announcing his intent to enter the NFL Draft protocol, while fellow defensive back Eddie Jackson III announced his intent to enter the transfer portal.
As far as players expected to return for the 2026 season, defensive end and Buck Buchanan Award finalist Joshua Stoneking is expected to return to the defense. Other key players expected to return to the Paladin defense for the 2026 season are defensive end Malaki Dobbins, safeties AK Burrell. Caleb Easterling and Billy Lewis, and inside linebackers Ryan Earl and Raleigh Herbert.
Furman brought in a couple of key additions from the transfer portal to help soften the blow of losing a guy like Trey Hedden under center, with the additions of Trey Smith out of Roswell High School and Banks Bouton out of Gaffney High School.
Both are dual-threat signal-callers and will give the Paladin offense an element it lacked with Hedden under center, which is a run threat. It will be interesting to see just what the Paladins do in the portal during the off-season.
In addition to Stoneking, who garnered Walter Camp, AFCA, Associate Press, STATS Perform and FCS Central All-America honors along with First Team All-SoCon accolades, he was joined by six other Furman players to garner All-SoCon honors in 2025. Joining Stoneking as a part of the first-team All-SoCon team includes both OG Luke Petit (1st Team), TE Joshua Burrell (1st Team).
Garnering second-team All-SoCon citations were both Paladin wideout Evan James (2nd Team) and place-kicker Ian Williams (2nd Team). On the SoCon All-Freshman team, Williams was joined by defensive tackle Demetrius Baldwin and return specialist Caleb Easterling.
The Paladins would take some losses to the portal and to graduation, with the most notable departures coming on the offensive side of the football, with Trey Hedden having moved on to the transfer portal and New Mexico State, while Evan James moved on to Iowa via the transfer portal.
Furman also must replace four starters on the offensive line, with Chris Luna being the only returning starter for Furman in 2026. The defense will be the strength of the team in 2026, with Buck Buchanan finalist Joshua Stoneking back after leading the nation in sacks (14.5 sacks) and tackles-for-loss (23.0) back to anchor a physical unit, which will have one of the best front sevens in all of the SoCon and one of the best in the entire FCS next season.
On defense, Furman has had less action entering the transfer portal, but there are some significant departures, with Taylan Blaylock officially announcing his intent to enter the NFL Draft protocol, while fellow defensive back Eddie Jackson III announced his intent to enter the transfer portal.
As far as players expected to return for the 2026 season, defensive end and Buck Buchanan Award finalist Joshua Stoneking is expected to return to the defense. Other key players expected to return to the Paladin defense for the 2026 season are defensive end Malaki Dobbins, safeties AK Burrell. Caleb Easterling and Billy Lewis, and inside linebackers Ryan Earl and Raleigh Herbert.
Furman brought in a couple of key additions from the transfer portal to help soften the blow of losing a guy like Trey Hedden under center, with the additions of Trey Smith out of Roswell High School and Banks Bouton out of Gaffney High School.
Both are dual-threat signal-callers and will give the Paladin offense an element it lacked with Hedden under center, which is a run threat. It will be interesting to see just what the Paladins do in the portal during the off-season.
In addition to Stoneking, who garnered Walter Camp, AFCA, Associate Press, STATS Perform and FCS Central All-America honors along with First Team All-SoCon accolades, he was joined by six other Furman players to garner All-SoCon honors in 2025. Joining Stoneking as a part of the first-team All-SoCon team includes both OG Luke Petit (1st Team), TE Joshua Burrell (1st Team).
Garnering second-team All-SoCon citations were both Paladin wideout Evan James (2nd Team) and place-kicker Ian Williams (2nd Team). On the SoCon All-Freshman team, Williams was joined by defensive tackle Demetrius Baldwin and return specialist Caleb Easterling.
The Paladins would take some losses to the portal and to graduation, with the most notable departures coming on the offensive side of the football, with Trey Hedden having moved on to the transfer portal and New Mexico State, while Evan James moved on to Iowa via the transfer portal.
Furman also must replace four starters on the offensive line, with Chris Luna being the only returning starter for Furman in 2026. The defense will be the strength of the team in 2026, with Buck Buchanan finalist Joshua Stoneking back after leading the nation in sacks (14.5 sacks) and tackles-for-loss (23.0) back to anchor a physical unit, which will have one of the best front sevens in all of the SoCon and one of the best in the entire FCS next season.
Schedule Outlook
Furman's 2026 football schedule is one that will offer its own share of challenges in the league, especially with the addition of Tennessee Tech, which also means a trip to Cookeville to take on the Golden Eagles, who won 11 games last season.
For the third time in the past five seasons, Furman's campaign will begin on a Thursday night, as it will welcome Anderson University to Paladin Stadium for the first time ever. The season opener will also see the return of legendary former Paladin quarterback and head coach Bobby Lamb to the opposing sidelines, as the Trojans will mark the second program that Lamb has been at the helm of in leading the opposition against his alma mater.
Lamb was largely responsible for helping resurrect the Mercer football program, where he spent seven seasons as the head coach at Mercer, compiling a record of () during his time against the Bears. He was able to face off against longtime teammate and good friend Clay Hendrix on three occasions, with Hendrix winning all three of those matchups, which included two played in the friendly confines of Paladin Stadium.
Lamb is largely responsible for helping Mercer build a winning culture in Macon, which the Bears currently enjoy to this day, including having won back-to-back Southern Conference titles each of the past two seasons. Without Lamb, Mercer likely couldn't have fast-tracked that success.
During his time at Anderson, he's also helped build that program from the ground up, as Anderson had never had a football program in the time prior to Lamb's arrival. In what was just their second season of competition last fall, the Trojans finished with a 5-6 mark, including a 3-4 record in the South Atlantic Conference. The Trojans started the season 5-2, highlighted by a 35-28 win at Lenoir-Rhyne, however, struggled to losses in their final four games.
The Trojans will have to replace starter Wesley Tyler under center, as he has graduated, but look for the offense to be in the capable hands of redshirt sophomore Wilson Edwards, who finished out the 2025 campaign completing 33-of-66 passes for 508 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception.
The opener against what should be a much-improved Anderson team will offer a good opening test for the Paladins, which last opened a season against an NCAA Division II foe in 2022 against North Greenville.
Lamb coached the Paladins for nine seasons from 2002-10, taking the Paladins to the brink of the national title game in 2005, losing a 29-23 contest at Appalachian State, who went on to win the first of its three-straight titles in 2005, while Lamb was named the SoCon Coach of the Year in 2005.
The Paladins will look to avoid losing to their first lower division foe since 1985, which was also Lamb's senior season leading Furman under center. The Paladins lost to NCAA Division II Newberry on a 57-yard field goal at the horn.
Lamb quarterbacked Furman all the way to the national title game before seeing Georgia Southern complete a historic come-from-behind win to claim a 44-42 decision in Tacoma. Lamb and Hendrix were teammates on a Furman team that in many ways showed Furman to be a perennial national title contender for the first time, which was especially true over the later half of the 1980s.
Furman's second test of the season will see quite a increase in competition level, as the Paladins will face off against perennial FBS Playoff contender Tennessee out of the SEC. The Paladins will travel to Knoxville in week two to face off against the Volunteers in a game slated for a 3:30 p.m. EST contest at Neyland Stadium.
Furman hasn't faced off against the Volunteers on the gridiron since 1942, and the Vols are coming off an 8-5 season, including what was a 4-4 record in the SEC. The Vols, who are under the leadership of Josh Heupel, who heads into his sixth season as the Vols' head coach, having posted a 45-20 mark at the helm in Knoxville, which includes a 24-16 record against SEC competition.
Heupel has been largely responsible for revitalizing a Tennessee program that had slipped into a period of mediocrity under predecessor Jeremy Pruitt, who was fired in 2021 following an internal investigation into the program, which revealed some pretty major recruiting violations.
The Vols are no stranger to facing off against SoCon programs, including having faced off against East Tennessee State (W, 72-17) last season and preseason SoCon favorite Chattanooga (W, 69-3) in '24.
The Vols ended the 2025 season with two-straight losses, dropping a 45-24 in Neyland Stadium to Vanderbilt in the regular-season finale and then a month later dropped a 30-28 game to Illinois in the Music City Bowl in Nashville.
Like most programs at the NCAA Division I FBS or FCS level of college football, Tennessee will look much different in the fall of 2026 than when it took the field for its final regular-season contest against Illinois in the Music City Bowl, as the Vols added 22 players from the transfer portal and another 24 from the high school ranks.
Among the most discussed positions among Vols fans during the off-season is at quarterback, as Tennessee welcomes in Ryan Staub from Colorado, as well as a pair of talented freshmen quarterbacks, in Faizon Brandon and Mason Phillips also expected to compete for the starting responsibilities this fall.
Furman will obviously hope this game goes better against an SEC foe than the last time it faced one, which was the 2024 season opener, which saw the Paladins drop what was a 76-0 contest to Ole Miss. It will mark just the third all-time meeting between the Paladins and Vols, with Tennessee having handed Furman a 52-7 loss in that clash. In two meetings, Tennessee has outscored the Paladins 104-13 in the only two meetings.
For the third time in the past five seasons, Furman's campaign will begin on a Thursday night, as it will welcome Anderson University to Paladin Stadium for the first time ever. The season opener will also see the return of legendary former Paladin quarterback and head coach Bobby Lamb to the opposing sidelines, as the Trojans will mark the second program that Lamb has been at the helm of in leading the opposition against his alma mater.
Lamb was largely responsible for helping resurrect the Mercer football program, where he spent seven seasons as the head coach at Mercer, compiling a record of () during his time against the Bears. He was able to face off against longtime teammate and good friend Clay Hendrix on three occasions, with Hendrix winning all three of those matchups, which included two played in the friendly confines of Paladin Stadium.
Lamb is largely responsible for helping Mercer build a winning culture in Macon, which the Bears currently enjoy to this day, including having won back-to-back Southern Conference titles each of the past two seasons. Without Lamb, Mercer likely couldn't have fast-tracked that success.
During his time at Anderson, he's also helped build that program from the ground up, as Anderson had never had a football program in the time prior to Lamb's arrival. In what was just their second season of competition last fall, the Trojans finished with a 5-6 mark, including a 3-4 record in the South Atlantic Conference. The Trojans started the season 5-2, highlighted by a 35-28 win at Lenoir-Rhyne, however, struggled to losses in their final four games.
The Trojans will have to replace starter Wesley Tyler under center, as he has graduated, but look for the offense to be in the capable hands of redshirt sophomore Wilson Edwards, who finished out the 2025 campaign completing 33-of-66 passes for 508 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception.
The opener against what should be a much-improved Anderson team will offer a good opening test for the Paladins, which last opened a season against an NCAA Division II foe in 2022 against North Greenville.
Lamb coached the Paladins for nine seasons from 2002-10, taking the Paladins to the brink of the national title game in 2005, losing a 29-23 contest at Appalachian State, who went on to win the first of its three-straight titles in 2005, while Lamb was named the SoCon Coach of the Year in 2005.
The Paladins will look to avoid losing to their first lower division foe since 1985, which was also Lamb's senior season leading Furman under center. The Paladins lost to NCAA Division II Newberry on a 57-yard field goal at the horn.
Lamb quarterbacked Furman all the way to the national title game before seeing Georgia Southern complete a historic come-from-behind win to claim a 44-42 decision in Tacoma. Lamb and Hendrix were teammates on a Furman team that in many ways showed Furman to be a perennial national title contender for the first time, which was especially true over the later half of the 1980s.
Furman's second test of the season will see quite a increase in competition level, as the Paladins will face off against perennial FBS Playoff contender Tennessee out of the SEC. The Paladins will travel to Knoxville in week two to face off against the Volunteers in a game slated for a 3:30 p.m. EST contest at Neyland Stadium.
Furman hasn't faced off against the Volunteers on the gridiron since 1942, and the Vols are coming off an 8-5 season, including what was a 4-4 record in the SEC. The Vols, who are under the leadership of Josh Heupel, who heads into his sixth season as the Vols' head coach, having posted a 45-20 mark at the helm in Knoxville, which includes a 24-16 record against SEC competition.
Heupel has been largely responsible for revitalizing a Tennessee program that had slipped into a period of mediocrity under predecessor Jeremy Pruitt, who was fired in 2021 following an internal investigation into the program, which revealed some pretty major recruiting violations.
The Vols are no stranger to facing off against SoCon programs, including having faced off against East Tennessee State (W, 72-17) last season and preseason SoCon favorite Chattanooga (W, 69-3) in '24.
The Vols ended the 2025 season with two-straight losses, dropping a 45-24 in Neyland Stadium to Vanderbilt in the regular-season finale and then a month later dropped a 30-28 game to Illinois in the Music City Bowl in Nashville.
Like most programs at the NCAA Division I FBS or FCS level of college football, Tennessee will look much different in the fall of 2026 than when it took the field for its final regular-season contest against Illinois in the Music City Bowl, as the Vols added 22 players from the transfer portal and another 24 from the high school ranks.
Among the most discussed positions among Vols fans during the off-season is at quarterback, as Tennessee welcomes in Ryan Staub from Colorado, as well as a pair of talented freshmen quarterbacks, in Faizon Brandon and Mason Phillips also expected to compete for the starting responsibilities this fall.
Furman will obviously hope this game goes better against an SEC foe than the last time it faced one, which was the 2024 season opener, which saw the Paladins drop what was a 76-0 contest to Ole Miss. It will mark just the third all-time meeting between the Paladins and Vols, with Tennessee having handed Furman a 52-7 loss in that clash. In two meetings, Tennessee has outscored the Paladins 104-13 in the only two meetings.
Furman will open Southern Conference play on Sept. 12, traveling to face two-time defending champion Mercer at Five Star Stadium. The Paladins have been beaten soundly each of the past two seasons by the Bears, with the latest beating delivered by the Bears, who pounded the Paladins, 52-28, last season en route to a second-straight Southern Conference title.
A year earlier in Macon, the Bears put together a thorough, 49-23, win over the Paladins in Macon. Mercer will enter the 2026 season having won 18 of their last 19 SoCon games en route to two SoCon titles and three-straight FCS Playoff appearances. Dating back to the start of the spring of 2021 season, the Bears have posted a 32-8 mark against Southern Conference foes.
The 2026 season may be a bit of a rebuilding one, or it could be a reloading one for the Bears, who will be under the direction of a new head coach, in Joel Taylor, who takes over the program for Mike Jacobs, who left to become the head coach at Toledo just after the conclusion of the 2025 season, as the Bears were unceremoniously bounced in the opening round of the FCS Playoffs, with a 47-0 loss to South Dakota at Five Star Stadium.
Following wins at Furman, at No. 24 Western Carolina (W, 49-47), and vs Chattanooga (W, 63-17), the Bears would be defeated 62-17 at Auburn before losing that 47-0 contest to South Dakota, meaning the Bears were outscored, 102-3 over the final six quarters of the season.
Of the huge losses endured as a result of the coaching change, the Bears will have to replace both their top player on the offensive side of the football, in quarterback and Jerry Rice Award winner Braden Atkinson under center, as well as Buck Buchanan Award winner Andrew Zock on the defensive side of the ball.
A year earlier in Macon, the Bears put together a thorough, 49-23, win over the Paladins in Macon. Mercer will enter the 2026 season having won 18 of their last 19 SoCon games en route to two SoCon titles and three-straight FCS Playoff appearances. Dating back to the start of the spring of 2021 season, the Bears have posted a 32-8 mark against Southern Conference foes.
The 2026 season may be a bit of a rebuilding one, or it could be a reloading one for the Bears, who will be under the direction of a new head coach, in Joel Taylor, who takes over the program for Mike Jacobs, who left to become the head coach at Toledo just after the conclusion of the 2025 season, as the Bears were unceremoniously bounced in the opening round of the FCS Playoffs, with a 47-0 loss to South Dakota at Five Star Stadium.
Following wins at Furman, at No. 24 Western Carolina (W, 49-47), and vs Chattanooga (W, 63-17), the Bears would be defeated 62-17 at Auburn before losing that 47-0 contest to South Dakota, meaning the Bears were outscored, 102-3 over the final six quarters of the season.
Of the huge losses endured as a result of the coaching change, the Bears will have to replace both their top player on the offensive side of the football, in quarterback and Jerry Rice Award winner Braden Atkinson under center, as well as Buck Buchanan Award winner Andrew Zock on the defensive side of the ball.
Braden Atkinson picked up the STATS Perform Jerry Rice Award for his performance during the regular-season, which saw him finish out the season completing 268-of-408 passes for 3,596 yards, with 34 TDs and 11 INTs.
He threw six INTs over the final two weeks of the season, however, had thrown only five picks in eight starts prior to the final two games of the season. The Rice Award is given to the top freshman player in FCS football annually. Atkinson also picked up SoCon Freshman of the Year honors.
While Atkinson claimed the Rice Award in a landslide, Andrew Zock was named SoCon Defensive Player of the Year as well as being named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which will be announced on Jan. 3 in Nashville. Zock was named as one of three finalists for the award last week, as he was joined by Furman's dynamic defensive end Joshua Stoneking, as well as Fordham linebacker James Conway.
The Bears were dominant defensively over the first nine games of the season, surrendering just 143 points over the first eight games of the season. However, the final four games saw the Bears give up 163 points, including surrendering 47 or more points in three of the final four games of the season.
The Bears, like virtually everyone else in the league, have some major holes to address that came mostly as a result of the coaching transition, as well as the Bears' overall success over the past three seasons.
Mercer has won 19-straight SoCon games entering the 2026 season, including having won back-to-back titles for the first time since Wofford won three in a row from 2017-19. The Bears will be very similar on both sides of the football as to how they were under Jacobs, and I look for JP Pickles to be the guy under center, although he will be likely pushed by former ETSU starter Jaylen King.
Pickles will have some good weapons that are back for another season to throw to, in tight end Apollos Cook and wideout Braden Smith, who are holdovers from last season's championship team. The defense will have to completely overhauled, however, that is Taylor's forte' and there shouldn't be a drop-off on that side of the ball even despite the replacements. Asa Gregg is a speedster to watch in the passing game for the Bears this fall
Andrew Zock's up front on the defensive line each of the past two seasons was something to behold, and he became the first player from the SoCon to claim the prestigious Buck Buchanan Award.
Much like Tennessee Tech in the Big South/OVC from last year or in 2023 when Furman lost nearly it's entire three-deep, the Bears will have to replace much of what enabled the program to win 21 games over the past two seasons, which is a big reason for the signing class of 45 newcomers, which will include 31 transfers that come from 17 different institutions.
There are several key additions that will make immediate impacts from the transfer portal, with linebacker Jaise Davis (Shorter) being one from the lower ranks that should be an impact player right away this fall for the Bears. I'd be shocked if the Bears aren't in the mix for a third-straight title and fourth-consecutive playoff bid in late November even despite all the turnover.
As for the Furman game last season, the Bears were dominant offensively, rolling up 628 yards of total offense en route to a second-straight win over the Paladins.
The Bears came back to score 24-unanswered points over the final quarter-and-a-half to take an 11-point lead into the halftime locker room, which included one of the more dominant second quarter performances by an opponent ever witnessed in the 44-year history of the facility.
It marked the second time in a little over a calendar year that the Paladins have yielded 52 points to an opponent on its home turf, and the third time overall, as Furman dropped a 52-7 game at Western Carolina earlier this season. Furman also dropped a 52-20 contest at home to Western Carolina on Oct. 26, 2024.
Atkison, who was the reigning STATS Perform Freshman of the Week, has now completed 57-of-86 passes for 959 yards, with nine TDs and no INTs in the past two weeks. Though he was hit Saturday, he never was sacked by Furman, which entered the contest with the nation's leading pass-rusher, in Joshua Stoneking (12.5 sacks, 18.5 TFL).
Atkinson's favorite target of the game was Adonis McDaniel, who hauled in seven passes for 139 yards and a touchdown, while Adjatay Dabbs turned in his second big performance against the Paladins, hauling in six passes for 117 yards and a touchdown.
Equally impressive was Mercer's ground attack, which amassed 202 yards on 40 attempts in Saturday's win, and was led by another solid effort on the ground by CJ Miller, who finished the night with 111 yards and a pair of scores on 20 rush attempts. He also added three catches for 14 yards, including an 18-yard scoring catch early in the second quarter.
Furman was led in the game by quarterback Trey Hedden, who finished his afternoon connecting on 12-of-18 passes for 155 yards, with two TDs and an INT. Hedden was sacked four times in the game.
Hedden's favorite target was true freshman Evan James, who finished his afternoon with five catches for 39 yards and a score. Ja'Keith Hamilton also hauled in a 64-yard scoring pass on a wide receiver screen from Hedden early in the second half.
Furman true freshman running back CJ Nettles finished the game with his first-career 100-yard rushing effort, highlighted by a 67-yard scoring run on Furman's second possession of the day. Nettles finished the game with 105 yards and a touchdown on 15 rush attempts.
Capping Furman's day filled with highlights made by true freshmen was Caleb Easterling, who returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. It marked the eighth kickoff return of 100 yards or more in program history, including the first since Jerodis Williams took one back for 100 yards in 2012 at Appalachian State (Nov. 10, 2012). It was the first 100-yard for a score in Paladin Stadium since Jerodis Williams' 100-yard kickoff return vs. Western Carolina (Sept. 29, 2012) earlier in that same campaign.
Defensively, Mercer sacked Hedden four times and allowed Furman just eight first downs the entire afternoon, holding the Paladins to just 2.9 yards-per-rush. Linebackers Drew Clare and Julian Fox led the Bears with five tackles apiece, with Fox adding a sack and a tackle-for-loss.
Andrew Zock continued to live up to his preseason billing as the SoCon's best defensive player, ending his afternoon with three tackles, a pair of quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a sack. Bears defensive back Kaleb Hutchinson added four tackles and two tackles-for-loss, while linebacker Donovan Watkins accounted for the only turnover of the day, as he picked off a Trey Hedden pass.
Furman was led defensively by linebacker Luke McLaughlin, who finished with 11 tackles, while defensive end Joshua Stoneking added 10 tackles and a tackle-for-loss in the losing effort.
Mercer's dominance was revealed on the stats sheet in nearly every statistical category. The Bears owned advantages in the following categories: total plays (89-43); total yards (628-227); passing yards (426-155); rushing yards (202-72); first downs (36-8) and time of possession (37:59-22:01).
All told, Furman holds a 12-9-2 lead in the all-time series between the two, and will look to avoid what would be only its second three-game losing streak to Mercer in series history, as the Paladins lost three-straight to Mercer from 1923-25. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. EST at Five Star Stadium.
Pickles will have some good weapons that are back for another season to throw to, in tight end Apollos Cook and wideout Braden Smith, who are holdovers from last season's championship team. The defense will have to completely overhauled, however, that is Taylor's forte' and there shouldn't be a drop-off on that side of the ball even despite the replacements. Asa Gregg is a speedster to watch in the passing game for the Bears this fall
Andrew Zock's up front on the defensive line each of the past two seasons was something to behold, and he became the first player from the SoCon to claim the prestigious Buck Buchanan Award.
Much like Tennessee Tech in the Big South/OVC from last year or in 2023 when Furman lost nearly it's entire three-deep, the Bears will have to replace much of what enabled the program to win 21 games over the past two seasons, which is a big reason for the signing class of 45 newcomers, which will include 31 transfers that come from 17 different institutions.
There are several key additions that will make immediate impacts from the transfer portal, with linebacker Jaise Davis (Shorter) being one from the lower ranks that should be an impact player right away this fall for the Bears. I'd be shocked if the Bears aren't in the mix for a third-straight title and fourth-consecutive playoff bid in late November even despite all the turnover.
As for the Furman game last season, the Bears were dominant offensively, rolling up 628 yards of total offense en route to a second-straight win over the Paladins.
The Bears came back to score 24-unanswered points over the final quarter-and-a-half to take an 11-point lead into the halftime locker room, which included one of the more dominant second quarter performances by an opponent ever witnessed in the 44-year history of the facility.
It marked the second time in a little over a calendar year that the Paladins have yielded 52 points to an opponent on its home turf, and the third time overall, as Furman dropped a 52-7 game at Western Carolina earlier this season. Furman also dropped a 52-20 contest at home to Western Carolina on Oct. 26, 2024.
Atkison, who was the reigning STATS Perform Freshman of the Week, has now completed 57-of-86 passes for 959 yards, with nine TDs and no INTs in the past two weeks. Though he was hit Saturday, he never was sacked by Furman, which entered the contest with the nation's leading pass-rusher, in Joshua Stoneking (12.5 sacks, 18.5 TFL).
Atkinson's favorite target of the game was Adonis McDaniel, who hauled in seven passes for 139 yards and a touchdown, while Adjatay Dabbs turned in his second big performance against the Paladins, hauling in six passes for 117 yards and a touchdown.
Equally impressive was Mercer's ground attack, which amassed 202 yards on 40 attempts in Saturday's win, and was led by another solid effort on the ground by CJ Miller, who finished the night with 111 yards and a pair of scores on 20 rush attempts. He also added three catches for 14 yards, including an 18-yard scoring catch early in the second quarter.
Furman was led in the game by quarterback Trey Hedden, who finished his afternoon connecting on 12-of-18 passes for 155 yards, with two TDs and an INT. Hedden was sacked four times in the game.
Hedden's favorite target was true freshman Evan James, who finished his afternoon with five catches for 39 yards and a score. Ja'Keith Hamilton also hauled in a 64-yard scoring pass on a wide receiver screen from Hedden early in the second half.
Furman true freshman running back CJ Nettles finished the game with his first-career 100-yard rushing effort, highlighted by a 67-yard scoring run on Furman's second possession of the day. Nettles finished the game with 105 yards and a touchdown on 15 rush attempts.
Capping Furman's day filled with highlights made by true freshmen was Caleb Easterling, who returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. It marked the eighth kickoff return of 100 yards or more in program history, including the first since Jerodis Williams took one back for 100 yards in 2012 at Appalachian State (Nov. 10, 2012). It was the first 100-yard for a score in Paladin Stadium since Jerodis Williams' 100-yard kickoff return vs. Western Carolina (Sept. 29, 2012) earlier in that same campaign.
Defensively, Mercer sacked Hedden four times and allowed Furman just eight first downs the entire afternoon, holding the Paladins to just 2.9 yards-per-rush. Linebackers Drew Clare and Julian Fox led the Bears with five tackles apiece, with Fox adding a sack and a tackle-for-loss.
Andrew Zock continued to live up to his preseason billing as the SoCon's best defensive player, ending his afternoon with three tackles, a pair of quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a sack. Bears defensive back Kaleb Hutchinson added four tackles and two tackles-for-loss, while linebacker Donovan Watkins accounted for the only turnover of the day, as he picked off a Trey Hedden pass.
Furman was led defensively by linebacker Luke McLaughlin, who finished with 11 tackles, while defensive end Joshua Stoneking added 10 tackles and a tackle-for-loss in the losing effort.
Mercer's dominance was revealed on the stats sheet in nearly every statistical category. The Bears owned advantages in the following categories: total plays (89-43); total yards (628-227); passing yards (426-155); rushing yards (202-72); first downs (36-8) and time of possession (37:59-22:01).
All told, Furman holds a 12-9-2 lead in the all-time series between the two, and will look to avoid what would be only its second three-game losing streak to Mercer in series history, as the Paladins lost three-straight to Mercer from 1923-25. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. EST at Five Star Stadium.
Following the early SoCon game against Mercer, the Paladins return to Paladin Stadium on Sept. 19 to face their first FCS opponent on home turf when they host South Carolina State at Paladin Stadium, as the two meet for the first time since 2015 when the Paladins won 17-3 on a stormy, windy early October night.
That win at home by the Paladins helped avenge a 17-7 loss from a year earlier to the Bulldogs, which marked South Carolina State's first win over the Paladins since the 1997 season. All told, it will mark the 18th all-time clash between the Paladins and Bulldogs, with Furman holding the 12-5 all-time series edge.
In that win some 11 years ago, the Paladins got a solid evening from running back Tristan Luke, who finished with 75 rushing yards on 22 attempts against a stingy Bulldogs defense, but found the end zone twice to account for Furman's only two TDs of the evening. The Paladin defense forced three SC State turnovers and was did not turn the ball over themselves. Linebacker Carl Rider led the defensive charge for the Paladins, registering a career-high 19 stops.
South Carolina State enter the 2026 season off a strong 10-3 campaign in 2025 under the direction of head coach Chennis Berry, who enters his third season at the helm, having posted a 19-6 record in two seasons as the head coach of the Bulldogs, while having posted an impressive 46-13 mark in a total of five seasons as a head coach.
The Bulldogs closed strong, winning their final eight games of the season, including a 40-38, four-overtime thriller win over Prairie View A&M, in the Celebration Bowl to close out the 2025 season, which helped them finish No. 25 overall in the final STATS FCS Top 25 poll.
The Bulldogs will have a good nucleus of talent returning on both sides of the football for the '26 season and will give the Paladins another solid opponent as a part of the non-conference slate.
Furman will round out the non-conference slate the following week when it travels to former SoCon rival Richmond on Sept. 26. The past couple of seasons has seen Richmond battle Wofford in a couple of close games, and this time around, former Chattanooga head coach and now Richmond boss Russ Huesman decided to change things up, as the two former SoCon old SoCon rivals will lock horns on the gridiron for the first time since the 2005 FCS Playoffs, which saw the Paladins take a thrilling 24-20 win over the Dave Clawson-led Spiders. Led by dual-threat signal-caller Stacey Tutt and prolific future NFL running back Tim Hightower on offense, and a tenacious defense that allowed next to nothing through the ground or through the air.
That win at home by the Paladins helped avenge a 17-7 loss from a year earlier to the Bulldogs, which marked South Carolina State's first win over the Paladins since the 1997 season. All told, it will mark the 18th all-time clash between the Paladins and Bulldogs, with Furman holding the 12-5 all-time series edge.
In that win some 11 years ago, the Paladins got a solid evening from running back Tristan Luke, who finished with 75 rushing yards on 22 attempts against a stingy Bulldogs defense, but found the end zone twice to account for Furman's only two TDs of the evening. The Paladin defense forced three SC State turnovers and was did not turn the ball over themselves. Linebacker Carl Rider led the defensive charge for the Paladins, registering a career-high 19 stops.
South Carolina State enter the 2026 season off a strong 10-3 campaign in 2025 under the direction of head coach Chennis Berry, who enters his third season at the helm, having posted a 19-6 record in two seasons as the head coach of the Bulldogs, while having posted an impressive 46-13 mark in a total of five seasons as a head coach.
The Bulldogs closed strong, winning their final eight games of the season, including a 40-38, four-overtime thriller win over Prairie View A&M, in the Celebration Bowl to close out the 2025 season, which helped them finish No. 25 overall in the final STATS FCS Top 25 poll.
The Bulldogs will have a good nucleus of talent returning on both sides of the football for the '26 season and will give the Paladins another solid opponent as a part of the non-conference slate.
Furman will round out the non-conference slate the following week when it travels to former SoCon rival Richmond on Sept. 26. The past couple of seasons has seen Richmond battle Wofford in a couple of close games, and this time around, former Chattanooga head coach and now Richmond boss Russ Huesman decided to change things up, as the two former SoCon old SoCon rivals will lock horns on the gridiron for the first time since the 2005 FCS Playoffs, which saw the Paladins take a thrilling 24-20 win over the Dave Clawson-led Spiders. Led by dual-threat signal-caller Stacey Tutt and prolific future NFL running back Tim Hightower on offense, and a tenacious defense that allowed next to nothing through the ground or through the air.
The "Stonewall Defense" as the Spiders came to be known were at that time led by Huesman, who was the Spiders' defensive coordinator and in his second season leading a stout unit. Following Richmond's first and only national title in 2008, Huesman left to become the head coach at Chattanooga, where he would spend the next eight seasons before arriving to become Richmond's head coach in 2017.
Coming into that '05 matchup that was played at the old City Stadium and former NASCAR Track, the Spiders had won eight in a row and were the Atlantic 10 co-Champions (now the Coastal Athletic Association or CAA).
However, in Furman and its talented quarterback Ingle Martin, the Spiders had met their match, as the Paladins went on to get a four-point win, as Martin passed for 249 yards and a touchdown, while Jerome Felton finished with 92 rushing yards and a pair of scores in the narrow win. The '05 Paladins, which established themselves as the top offensive in program history, would finish out the night holding a 443-348 edge in total offense.
Richmond, which is coming off a 7-5 record overall and a 3-4 mark in their new conference--the Patriot League--heads into the 2026 season expected to be one of the team's to compete for the Patriot League title along with Lehigh and bitter rival William & Mary. That 7-5 season last fall.
When the Paladins and Spiders square off on Sept. 26,. it will mark the first meeting between the two programs since that playoff clash back in 2005. The Paladins and Spiders will be meeting on the gridiron for the 26th time in series history, with the Spiders holding the 15-10 all-time series edge.
Huesman will have the luxury of having a more experienced team returning for the upcoming season, which sees the return of 22 players that played at least played a role in the Spiders' first season in their new conference.
One thing that is always a staple of Russ Huesman-coached teams is their proficiency on the defensive side of the football, and that should again be the case this fall, as the Spiders are coming off a campaign, which saw them rank second in the Patriot League in both scoring defense and total defense, and welcome back EDGE Camden Byrd, who posted 11.5 tackles-for-loss and eight sacks last season and will be on the short list of candidates to be in the running for the Buck Buchanan Award this fall.
Also returning to the fold is All-Patriot League linebacker Carter Glassmeyer and safety Tayshaun Burney, as Richmond sports talents at all three levels on the defensive side of the ball. Burney led the team with 10 pass breakups last season. Jordan Allen and Lee Bruner IV are also back at safety, and were excellent against the run last season, as Richmond was one of the most physical units in the Patriot League last fall.
While the defense should be good, the offense is a little more of a question mark, but there are some key pieces returning that fans should be aware of. If there weren't so many question marks at quarterback, perhaps the Spiders would be the prohibitive favorite in their second year as a league member. Ashten Snelsire is back at quarterback after throwing for 848 yards, with eight touchdowns and five INTs a year ago. Kickoff between the Paladins and Spiders is set for 2 p.m. EST on Sept. 26 at UR Stadium.
Furman continues Southern Conference play and returns in-earnest to league play for the remainder of the season on Oct. 3 when it welcomes its oldest rival, Wofford, to Paladin Stadium on Oct. 3 for another key league tilt.
The Paladins will be looking to put an end to a three-game skid against the Terriers when the two meet on the first Saturday in October, and the game represents the oldest football rivalry in the state of South Carolina, as well as one of the oldest in the deep South, with the rivalry between the Upstate, S.C. programs getting its start way back in 1889, with the Terriers getting a 5-1 win in that contest, which was played in Spartanburg.
When the two meet this fall, it will mark the 100th all-time meeting between the two programs, with Furman holding the commanding 56-36-7 all-time series edge. Wofford has won each of the past three meetings, with the Paladins being held to a total of just 13 points in all three losses.
The Paladins dropped what was a 31-13 decision last season in Spartanburg last season on a day when the Paladins had trouble stopping Wofford's passing attack and getting anything going with its own aerial assault. Wofford quarterback JT Fayard was outstanding in leading the Terriers to the 18-point win, as he was able to connect on 18-of-25 passes for 179 yards and a pair of TDs with one INT, as he led a Wofford offense, which narrowly was edged in total yards by the Paladins, 329-325, in one of its most efficient performances of the season.
The Paladins, meanwhile, were led by quarterback Trey Hedden, who finished the day 27-of-39 passing for 257 yards, with one TD and three INTs. His favorite target in the loss was Devin Hester Jr., who hauled in six passes for 82 yards and a score. The Paladins were paced by Billy Lewis' nine tackles and one tackle-for-loss on the defensive side of the football. Safety AK Burrell added six tackles and an INT for the 'Dins.
The Paladins will look to avoid losing four-straight games in the series, which the Paladins have only done one other time since Wofford joined the SoCon back in 1997, which was from 2015-17, with the Terriers claiming a 28-10 FCS Playoff win over Furman back in 2017. Furman's last win in the series came back in 2022 in Greenville, as the Paladins posted a 63-28 win in Greenville in the final regular-season home game that season.
The only team in the SoCon to return more starters than the Paladins combined on both sides of the football is Wofford, which is led by quarterback JT Fayard (139-of-207 passing, 1,471 yards, 13 TDs, 3 INTs) on offense, while defensive back Eli Campbell (67 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 4 INTs, 1 FF) returns to lead a secondary that helped the Terriers pick off a league-leading 15 passes last fall.
Kickoff time for Furman's game against the Terriers for the centennial renewal of the Palmetto State's oldest gridiron rivalry, with kickoff time slated for 2 p.m. EST/
The Paladins will be looking to put an end to a three-game skid against the Terriers when the two meet on the first Saturday in October, and the game represents the oldest football rivalry in the state of South Carolina, as well as one of the oldest in the deep South, with the rivalry between the Upstate, S.C. programs getting its start way back in 1889, with the Terriers getting a 5-1 win in that contest, which was played in Spartanburg.
When the two meet this fall, it will mark the 100th all-time meeting between the two programs, with Furman holding the commanding 56-36-7 all-time series edge. Wofford has won each of the past three meetings, with the Paladins being held to a total of just 13 points in all three losses.
The Paladins dropped what was a 31-13 decision last season in Spartanburg last season on a day when the Paladins had trouble stopping Wofford's passing attack and getting anything going with its own aerial assault. Wofford quarterback JT Fayard was outstanding in leading the Terriers to the 18-point win, as he was able to connect on 18-of-25 passes for 179 yards and a pair of TDs with one INT, as he led a Wofford offense, which narrowly was edged in total yards by the Paladins, 329-325, in one of its most efficient performances of the season.
The Paladins, meanwhile, were led by quarterback Trey Hedden, who finished the day 27-of-39 passing for 257 yards, with one TD and three INTs. His favorite target in the loss was Devin Hester Jr., who hauled in six passes for 82 yards and a score. The Paladins were paced by Billy Lewis' nine tackles and one tackle-for-loss on the defensive side of the football. Safety AK Burrell added six tackles and an INT for the 'Dins.
The Paladins will look to avoid losing four-straight games in the series, which the Paladins have only done one other time since Wofford joined the SoCon back in 1997, which was from 2015-17, with the Terriers claiming a 28-10 FCS Playoff win over Furman back in 2017. Furman's last win in the series came back in 2022 in Greenville, as the Paladins posted a 63-28 win in Greenville in the final regular-season home game that season.
The only team in the SoCon to return more starters than the Paladins combined on both sides of the football is Wofford, which is led by quarterback JT Fayard (139-of-207 passing, 1,471 yards, 13 TDs, 3 INTs) on offense, while defensive back Eli Campbell (67 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 4 INTs, 1 FF) returns to lead a secondary that helped the Terriers pick off a league-leading 15 passes last fall.
Kickoff time for Furman's game against the Terriers for the centennial renewal of the Palmetto State's oldest gridiron rivalry, with kickoff time slated for 2 p.m. EST/
On Oct. 10, Furman will be on the road to take on the SoCon's newest official member, Tennessee Tech, at Tucker Stadium, making its first visit to Cookeville since the 2021 campaign, as the Paladins blanked the Golden Eagles, 26-0, on that warm early fall afternoon.
The last meeting between the two actually came in the 2023 season opener, as Furman claimed what was a 45-10 win in what was just the fourth meeting in the history of the series, which got its start way back in 1975. The Paladins hold a 3-1 all-time series edge against the Golden Eagles, with Tennessee Tech's lone win in the series coming in that first-ever meeting between the two schools, as Tennessee Tech claimed a 17-5 decision in what was the season opener for the 'Dins in '75.
Tennessee Tech figures to be one of the favorites to claim the Southern Conference title this fall, as Bobby Wilder heads into his third season at the helm of the Tennessee Tech program after having led the Golden Eagles to their best season in program history in 2025, with the Golden Eagles finishing 11-2 overall and a perfect 8-0 in their final season of membership of the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association.
Despite being one of the favorites, the Golden Eagles will have to reload on both sides of the football, and it all starts under center, with a new signal-caller slated to go under center this fall for the Golden Eagles.
Replacing the Kekoa Visperas under center will be the biggest key on the offensive side of the football, but overall there is a positive vibe about the momentum established with the 11-win campaign of a year ago.
The Golden Eagles were in fact hit pretty hard by graduation and the transfer portal, but coach Wilder and staff hit the transfer portal hard, bringing a total of 46 newcomers, which includes a whopping 41 transfers, including a pair of quarterbacks, in Zolten Osborne (Charleston Southern) and Jax Leatherwood (SEMO).
The offense was decimated by both graduation and the transfer portal, with Nason Simmons the lone returnee of the five offensive linemen, while the skill positions were also hit hard by the portal, with not much in the way of continuity returning from last season. The good news is the Golden Eagles are solid at the skill spots, where leading rusher Quintell Quinn (101 rush att, 698 rush yds, 9 TDs, 6.1 YPC in 2025) and Maury Sullivan (50 catches, 631 yds, 4 TDs in 2025) are both back to give either Leatherwood or Osborne some great options in the passing attack.
Tennessee Tech ranked ninth in the nation in total defense last season, surrendering just 296.7 YPG in 2025. One of the holdovers from that outstanding defensive unit from last season are defensive backs Omar Philyaw and Leon Thomas, while Idris King, Xavier Randolph and Kanstin Brooks represent three of four starters from the defensive line.
Linebacker is the one position on the defensive side of the football that remains a bit of a concern heading into the 2026 season, but the Golden Eagles should again be stout on the defensive side of the ball.
Kickoff for the first-ever SoCon gridiron battle between the Paladins and Golden Eagles is set for 2:30 p.m. EST at Tucker Stadium in Cookevile.
Following an off week on Oct. 17, the Paladins will return to the SoCon gridiron on Oct. 24, hosting Samford at Paladin Stadium for the first time since 2022. The scheduled meeting in Greenville slated for 2024 had to be canceled as a result of Hurricane Helene, with the Furman campus having its electricity compromised, which was also the case for 96% of Greenville residents.
The Paladins claimed both meetings with the Bulldogs since losing that 35-27 game to Samford back in 2022, as the Paladins and Bulldogs went on to participate in the 2022 FCS Playoffs, with the Bulldogs claiming the automatic bid as the SoCon champion in '22, finishing a perfect 8-0 in league play and ultimately reached the quarterfinal round of the playoffs before losing to North Dakota State.
The Paladins would get their revenge against Samford in '23, as the Paladins were 27-21 winners in Homewood, sacking talented Samford signal-caller Michael Hiers a total of nine times in the win. The Paladins nearly duplicated that '23 feat in '25 following the one-year hiatus in the series due, sacking Samford quarterbacks seven times en route to what was a convincing 31-13 win at Pete Hanna Stadium.
Following what ended up being a 1-11 campaign, which included just a 1-7 mark in Southern Conference play, head coach Chris Hatcher was fired with two weeks remaining in the regular-season, ending what had been a topsy-turvy 11 seasons as the head coach in Homewood.
The new Sherriff on the sidelines in Homewood this season will be John Grass, who comes over from Clemson where he was a staff analyst the past four seasons, and will take over as the head coach of Bulldogs this fall. He brings a wealth of experience and success with him to Homewood, as he looks to turn around the suddenly fledgeling program.
Grass' coaching staff will have a uniquely tinge of Clemson Orange with it, as the four-year analyst on staff in Tiger Town brings along with him several former Clemson assistants, as the new staff will look to rebuild a program that slipped to its worst season since moving to NCAA Division I football at the FCS level back in 1989.
It was the worst record to end a season since the first season the program was brought back after a nine-year hiatus (1974-83), as the Bulldogs finished with just one win (1-7) under Kim Alsop in 1984.
As good as Grass has been during his career as a highly accomplished high school coach and college coach at Jacksonville State before moving on to Clemson for a four-year stint as a staff analyst, he and his Clemson colleagues that take over Samford will have their work cut out for them.
In Chris Hatcher's final three seasons as the head coach, he systematically tore down everything he'd worked so hard to build by completely selling out to the portal because he hit all the right buttons by doing that very thing in the offseason following the 2021 campaign. Despite hitting it exactly right in 2022, that same philosophy would fail in three-straight seasons, as Hatcher's final three seasons as the Bulldogs would produce as many wins (11) as the Bulldogs' breakthrough season as a SoCon member in 2022. Samford went 11-23 in Hatcher's final three seasons as the head coach.
Grass and his new staff have effectively overhauled most of the roster that have chosen to leave, graduated or been asked to leave, as 34 newcomers highlight the two signing day hauls back in December and February, respectively.
So Grass takes over a program that didn't have many positives to build on moving forward, and that includes plenty of remaining question marks at the quarterback position where Wake Forest transfer Charlie Gilliam and Coulter Cleland are expected to be the leading candidates to replace Quincy Crittendon at quarterback this fall.
As far as the running back spot is concerned, Troy transfer Keion Dunlap and Clemson transfer Marquise Henderson are expected to be the two main options, as more emphasis will be placed upon the ground game in Samford's move away from the 'Hatch Attack' offense and into the John Grass coaching era. Henderson was a four-star recruit coming out of Belton Honea Path HS.
The Bulldogs have at least one transfer coming to town from another Southern Conference program, in tight end Ryan Skinner, while Preston Bird, who was Samford's second-best receiver a year ago, hauling in 53 passes for 617 yards and four scores, has decided to return for his junior season.
Without question the offensive line was Samford's biggest issue in each of Hatcher's final three seasons as the head coach, however, there is some young talented players within the younger crop moving forward, such as rising sophomores Web Davidson (RT) and Will Turner IV (C) and rising juniors Kaleb May (LG) and Tyler Doughtit (LT).
In fact, with the return of right guard Duncan Johnson, the Bulldogs are set to return all five starters from the unit that lined up against Texas A&M as the starters in the final game of the regular-season.
Defensively, there is also much work new defensive coordinator Mickey Conn, who worked as the defensive backs coach at Clemson. He will be charged with helping rebuild a defense that ranked 117th out of 126 FCS teams last fall in total defense, as the Bulldogs surrendered 454.7 YPG last season.
The lone returning starter along the defensive line heading into the 2026 season will be nose tackle Maxton Woodward, while junior Jacob Johnson is the lone returning linebacker from the two-deep from last season. Jalen Johnson and safety Trey Lenhardt highlight the listed returnees from the two-deep in the defensive backfield. Lenhardt was a SoCon All-Freshman selection last season after posting 21 tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss and an INT.
All told, Furman and Samford will be meeting for the 28th time in series history when the two meet on Oct. 24, with the Paladins holding the 15-12 all-time series edge as a result of those three-straight wins in the series. Kickoff time for the Paladins and Bulldogs is set for 2 p.m EST at Pete Hanna Stadium.
The Paladins claimed both meetings with the Bulldogs since losing that 35-27 game to Samford back in 2022, as the Paladins and Bulldogs went on to participate in the 2022 FCS Playoffs, with the Bulldogs claiming the automatic bid as the SoCon champion in '22, finishing a perfect 8-0 in league play and ultimately reached the quarterfinal round of the playoffs before losing to North Dakota State.
The Paladins would get their revenge against Samford in '23, as the Paladins were 27-21 winners in Homewood, sacking talented Samford signal-caller Michael Hiers a total of nine times in the win. The Paladins nearly duplicated that '23 feat in '25 following the one-year hiatus in the series due, sacking Samford quarterbacks seven times en route to what was a convincing 31-13 win at Pete Hanna Stadium.
Following what ended up being a 1-11 campaign, which included just a 1-7 mark in Southern Conference play, head coach Chris Hatcher was fired with two weeks remaining in the regular-season, ending what had been a topsy-turvy 11 seasons as the head coach in Homewood.
The new Sherriff on the sidelines in Homewood this season will be John Grass, who comes over from Clemson where he was a staff analyst the past four seasons, and will take over as the head coach of Bulldogs this fall. He brings a wealth of experience and success with him to Homewood, as he looks to turn around the suddenly fledgeling program.
Grass' coaching staff will have a uniquely tinge of Clemson Orange with it, as the four-year analyst on staff in Tiger Town brings along with him several former Clemson assistants, as the new staff will look to rebuild a program that slipped to its worst season since moving to NCAA Division I football at the FCS level back in 1989.
It was the worst record to end a season since the first season the program was brought back after a nine-year hiatus (1974-83), as the Bulldogs finished with just one win (1-7) under Kim Alsop in 1984.
As good as Grass has been during his career as a highly accomplished high school coach and college coach at Jacksonville State before moving on to Clemson for a four-year stint as a staff analyst, he and his Clemson colleagues that take over Samford will have their work cut out for them.
In Chris Hatcher's final three seasons as the head coach, he systematically tore down everything he'd worked so hard to build by completely selling out to the portal because he hit all the right buttons by doing that very thing in the offseason following the 2021 campaign. Despite hitting it exactly right in 2022, that same philosophy would fail in three-straight seasons, as Hatcher's final three seasons as the Bulldogs would produce as many wins (11) as the Bulldogs' breakthrough season as a SoCon member in 2022. Samford went 11-23 in Hatcher's final three seasons as the head coach.
Grass and his new staff have effectively overhauled most of the roster that have chosen to leave, graduated or been asked to leave, as 34 newcomers highlight the two signing day hauls back in December and February, respectively.
So Grass takes over a program that didn't have many positives to build on moving forward, and that includes plenty of remaining question marks at the quarterback position where Wake Forest transfer Charlie Gilliam and Coulter Cleland are expected to be the leading candidates to replace Quincy Crittendon at quarterback this fall.
As far as the running back spot is concerned, Troy transfer Keion Dunlap and Clemson transfer Marquise Henderson are expected to be the two main options, as more emphasis will be placed upon the ground game in Samford's move away from the 'Hatch Attack' offense and into the John Grass coaching era. Henderson was a four-star recruit coming out of Belton Honea Path HS.
The Bulldogs have at least one transfer coming to town from another Southern Conference program, in tight end Ryan Skinner, while Preston Bird, who was Samford's second-best receiver a year ago, hauling in 53 passes for 617 yards and four scores, has decided to return for his junior season.
Without question the offensive line was Samford's biggest issue in each of Hatcher's final three seasons as the head coach, however, there is some young talented players within the younger crop moving forward, such as rising sophomores Web Davidson (RT) and Will Turner IV (C) and rising juniors Kaleb May (LG) and Tyler Doughtit (LT).
In fact, with the return of right guard Duncan Johnson, the Bulldogs are set to return all five starters from the unit that lined up against Texas A&M as the starters in the final game of the regular-season.
Defensively, there is also much work new defensive coordinator Mickey Conn, who worked as the defensive backs coach at Clemson. He will be charged with helping rebuild a defense that ranked 117th out of 126 FCS teams last fall in total defense, as the Bulldogs surrendered 454.7 YPG last season.
The lone returning starter along the defensive line heading into the 2026 season will be nose tackle Maxton Woodward, while junior Jacob Johnson is the lone returning linebacker from the two-deep from last season. Jalen Johnson and safety Trey Lenhardt highlight the listed returnees from the two-deep in the defensive backfield. Lenhardt was a SoCon All-Freshman selection last season after posting 21 tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss and an INT.
All told, Furman and Samford will be meeting for the 28th time in series history when the two meet on Oct. 24, with the Paladins holding the 15-12 all-time series edge as a result of those three-straight wins in the series. Kickoff time for the Paladins and Bulldogs is set for 2 p.m EST at Pete Hanna Stadium.
Furman closes out the month with a game on Halloween, looking to break a Catamount curse, as Western Carolina has claimed the last two wins in the series against the Paladins by a combined score of 104-44, with the Purple and Gold hitting up the Paladins for 52 points in each of the past two meetings and have amassed 1,323 yards of combined total offense in each of the past two clashes between the two.
The Catamounts completely overpowered Furman in last season's game between the two, and the purple and gold figure to once again be a prime contender for the league title, as Western Carolina continues to go in search of its first Southern Conference gridiron title since joining as an official SoCon member in 1976.
The Catamounts have been to the FCS Playoffs just once in school history, with the 1983 campaign remaining the lone blip of national success coming in 1983, when the Catamounts went all the way to the national championship game before losing 43-7 to Southern Illinois.
Dating back to the start of the 2022 season, the Catamounts are 21-11 in SoCon games, which included winning six SoCon games in 2024 for the first time since joining the league in 1976. The Catamounts duplicated their '24 feat last season, losing only two league games, with a 49-47 home heartbreaker to eventual league champion Mercer, as well as dropping a 52-35 at home to East Tennessee State at EJ Whitmire Stadium just a week later.
The Catamounts will be under the direction of Kerwin Bell, as he heads into his sixth season at the helm in Cullowhee, and he has led Western Carolina to three-straight seven-win seasons and is 31-26 overall and 25-15 in the SoCon as the head coach of Western Carolina.
In last season's clash between Furman and Western Carolina, record-setting redshirt sophomore quarterback Taron Dickens lit up the Paladin defense. Dickens continued his assault on the competition in 2025, as he was trying to make up for lost time after having to miss the first three games of the season due to suspension, and extended his streak without throwing an INT to four starts, as he finished the game by connecting on 17-of-24 passes for 220 yards, with four TDs.
The Catamounts completely overpowered Furman in last season's game between the two, and the purple and gold figure to once again be a prime contender for the league title, as Western Carolina continues to go in search of its first Southern Conference gridiron title since joining as an official SoCon member in 1976.
The Catamounts have been to the FCS Playoffs just once in school history, with the 1983 campaign remaining the lone blip of national success coming in 1983, when the Catamounts went all the way to the national championship game before losing 43-7 to Southern Illinois.
Dating back to the start of the 2022 season, the Catamounts are 21-11 in SoCon games, which included winning six SoCon games in 2024 for the first time since joining the league in 1976. The Catamounts duplicated their '24 feat last season, losing only two league games, with a 49-47 home heartbreaker to eventual league champion Mercer, as well as dropping a 52-35 at home to East Tennessee State at EJ Whitmire Stadium just a week later.
The Catamounts will be under the direction of Kerwin Bell, as he heads into his sixth season at the helm in Cullowhee, and he has led Western Carolina to three-straight seven-win seasons and is 31-26 overall and 25-15 in the SoCon as the head coach of Western Carolina.
In last season's clash between Furman and Western Carolina, record-setting redshirt sophomore quarterback Taron Dickens lit up the Paladin defense. Dickens continued his assault on the competition in 2025, as he was trying to make up for lost time after having to miss the first three games of the season due to suspension, and extended his streak without throwing an INT to four starts, as he finished the game by connecting on 17-of-24 passes for 220 yards, with four TDs.
He also rushed for 48 yards and on seven attempts. Dickens was sacked twice in the game. Dickens had scoring tosses of 50, 9, 41, and 6 yards to help power another prolific afternoon for the Catamount offense.
Shortly after the season, Taron Dickens would enter the transfer portal, however, it wouldn't until well into the spring in which we would end up being able to know Dickens' new destination, as he is set to join the Tarleton State football program in the fall of 2026.
With that said, whether its Lex Thomas, Isaac Lee or Jordan Martin-Durham leading this offense next season, we know that it will produce. Add to that the fact that both AJ Colombo, Michael Rossin and Jai Boyd return at wide receiver, as well as Patrick Boyd Jr. at running back, the only real major question surrounding the Catamounts entering the 2026 season is on defense, where Nick Reveiz takes over a unit that was in disarray each of the past two seasons under Jerry Odom.
It's been the WCU defense that has ultimately kept it from winning the title and making a long-awaited return to the FCS Playoffs each of the past two seasons. Furman and Western Carolina will be meeting for the 54th time in series history when the two do battle on Halloween of 2026, as the Paladins hold a commanding 36-15-2 lead in the all-time series. Kickoff time for the latest renewal of the rivalry at Paladin Stadium is set for 2 p.m. EST on all Hallow's Eve.
Shortly after the season, Taron Dickens would enter the transfer portal, however, it wouldn't until well into the spring in which we would end up being able to know Dickens' new destination, as he is set to join the Tarleton State football program in the fall of 2026.
With that said, whether its Lex Thomas, Isaac Lee or Jordan Martin-Durham leading this offense next season, we know that it will produce. Add to that the fact that both AJ Colombo, Michael Rossin and Jai Boyd return at wide receiver, as well as Patrick Boyd Jr. at running back, the only real major question surrounding the Catamounts entering the 2026 season is on defense, where Nick Reveiz takes over a unit that was in disarray each of the past two seasons under Jerry Odom.
It's been the WCU defense that has ultimately kept it from winning the title and making a long-awaited return to the FCS Playoffs each of the past two seasons. Furman and Western Carolina will be meeting for the 54th time in series history when the two do battle on Halloween of 2026, as the Paladins hold a commanding 36-15-2 lead in the all-time series. Kickoff time for the latest renewal of the rivalry at Paladin Stadium is set for 2 p.m. EST on all Hallow's Eve.
Furman will open the final month of the regular-season with a trip to bitter rival The Citadel, as the Paladins and Bulldogs renew their hatred for one another for the 106th time on Nov. 7, as the game not only is the most-played rivalry in the SoCon, but widely regarded as one of the Top 10 rivalries in all of FCS Football.
There is literally so much history between the two SoCon gridiron programs that books could be written about the rivalry. Furman's defense has been the story in the past five meetings--all won by Furman--as it has held the Bulldogs to an average of 13.6 PPG and have not allowed The Citadel to reach the 20-point plateau in one those meetings. Furman's five-game winning streak in the series is its longest since
The Paladins held off the Bulldogs for a 24-14 win this past season in Paladin Stadium, thanks to a defensive effort, which limited the Bulldogs to just 337 yards, including just 133 yards on the ground.
The meeting between the Bulldogs and Paladins will mark the 107th overall in the history of the series, and it's a rivalry that has become one of the fiercest in the nation. The Paladins hold a commanding 65-37-3 all-time series, but many of the games in the history of the series have come right down to the wire.
The Citadel will be under the direction of fourth year head coach Maurice Drayton, who saw a little bit of a regression from the 5-7 mark he helped lead the Bulldogs to a couple of years ago, however, the Bulldogs had a much tougher schedule last season, including facing 2024 reigning national title winner North Dakota State, who has now moved up to the FBS level effective next season.
The Bulldogs still have a challenging non-conference schedule ahead of them this season, however, which will include a pair of FBS foes, in Charlotte (Sept. 5) and Texas A&M (Oct. 17), while also facing Celebration Bowl Champion South Carolina State.
The Bulldogs welcome back plenty of talent on the offensive side of the ball heading into the 2026 season, highlighted by quarterback Quentin Hayes. The 6-0, 175-lb dual-threat quarterback was in his first season under center for the Bulldogs last season, splitting time under center with Cobey Thompkins, and with Thompkins no longer a part of the Bulldogs' program, it will be Hayes' job alon this fall.
Hayes was a late addition to the roster late in the summer of 2025, as he transferred in from Air Force. In his first season under center for The Citadel, Hayes was able to connect on 58-of-92 passes for 897 yards, with eight TDs and four INTs. He also ended the campaign as the Bulldogs' leading ground-gainer, finishing the season with 682 yards and seven TDs on 153 attempts, averaging 4.5 YPC.
The offensive line will have a rather large hole to fill in the middle with the graduation of All-SoCon center Mike Bartilucci, however, not all is lost along the offensive line, as the left side returns intact, with both left tackle Darwin Murillo and left guard Tyler Heggins-Hill returning to the fold. Redshirt sophomore Brady Pickett is back at right tackle, where he was a SoCon All-Freshman selection last fall. That's three starters returning along a unit that led the SoCon and ranked ninth nationally in rushing offense (210.6 YPG) last season.
There is literally so much history between the two SoCon gridiron programs that books could be written about the rivalry. Furman's defense has been the story in the past five meetings--all won by Furman--as it has held the Bulldogs to an average of 13.6 PPG and have not allowed The Citadel to reach the 20-point plateau in one those meetings. Furman's five-game winning streak in the series is its longest since
The Paladins held off the Bulldogs for a 24-14 win this past season in Paladin Stadium, thanks to a defensive effort, which limited the Bulldogs to just 337 yards, including just 133 yards on the ground.
The meeting between the Bulldogs and Paladins will mark the 107th overall in the history of the series, and it's a rivalry that has become one of the fiercest in the nation. The Paladins hold a commanding 65-37-3 all-time series, but many of the games in the history of the series have come right down to the wire.
The Citadel will be under the direction of fourth year head coach Maurice Drayton, who saw a little bit of a regression from the 5-7 mark he helped lead the Bulldogs to a couple of years ago, however, the Bulldogs had a much tougher schedule last season, including facing 2024 reigning national title winner North Dakota State, who has now moved up to the FBS level effective next season.
The Bulldogs still have a challenging non-conference schedule ahead of them this season, however, which will include a pair of FBS foes, in Charlotte (Sept. 5) and Texas A&M (Oct. 17), while also facing Celebration Bowl Champion South Carolina State.
The Bulldogs welcome back plenty of talent on the offensive side of the ball heading into the 2026 season, highlighted by quarterback Quentin Hayes. The 6-0, 175-lb dual-threat quarterback was in his first season under center for the Bulldogs last season, splitting time under center with Cobey Thompkins, and with Thompkins no longer a part of the Bulldogs' program, it will be Hayes' job alon this fall.
Hayes was a late addition to the roster late in the summer of 2025, as he transferred in from Air Force. In his first season under center for The Citadel, Hayes was able to connect on 58-of-92 passes for 897 yards, with eight TDs and four INTs. He also ended the campaign as the Bulldogs' leading ground-gainer, finishing the season with 682 yards and seven TDs on 153 attempts, averaging 4.5 YPC.
The offensive line will have a rather large hole to fill in the middle with the graduation of All-SoCon center Mike Bartilucci, however, not all is lost along the offensive line, as the left side returns intact, with both left tackle Darwin Murillo and left guard Tyler Heggins-Hill returning to the fold. Redshirt sophomore Brady Pickett is back at right tackle, where he was a SoCon All-Freshman selection last fall. That's three starters returning along a unit that led the SoCon and ranked ninth nationally in rushing offense (210.6 YPG) last season.
There will be a new running back leading the charge out of the backfield for the Bulldogs next season, with the departures of both Garrison Johnson Sr. and Corey Ibrahim, and that will help make way for a guy like redshirt sophomore Sebastien Boyle, who is a running back that helps hearken back to the old school in many ways. He's a physical runner with deceptive speed that loves to initiate contact.
The Bulldogs don't have much in the way of receiving options returning to the fold, with both Jihadi Marks and Javonte Graves-Billups having both moved on, however, Braylon Knauth was just starting to come into his own as a receiving threat last season, as the Orlando, FL., native finished the campaign with 16 catches for 240 yards and a pair of scores last season.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs will have some work to do developing continuity along the defensive front, where only one starter returns, in senior Chris Benton. Maurice Bonneau Jr. is expected to step into a starting role to provide some leadership at the position, as he was a key role player along the defensive front as a redshirt junior last season.
One young player that could see time sooner rather than later at linebacker is Michael Boulware out of Gray Collegiate Academy, where he was the Region 4 Defensive Player of the Year and an All-State selection. Boulware will be in competition with redshirt freshman Willie Smith Jr. to try and solidify the middle of the Bulldogs defense, which must replace two of its main leaders in the middle, with Mikey Rosa and Je'Mazin Roberts both having moved on.
The secondary was also hit hard by graduation and the transfer portal, with strong safety and all-conference leading tackler Cale Williams, as well as corners Bradlee Jones and Sayre Smothers having moved on. Peyton Betts and Temarcus Elam are the two main performers returning from the two-deep from last season, as each will be in contention to be the replacements at the free and strong safety positions.
Kickoff for the Paladins and Bulldogs on Nov. 7, 2026, is set for 2 p.m. EST. at Johnson-Hagood Stadium in Charleston.
The Bulldogs don't have much in the way of receiving options returning to the fold, with both Jihadi Marks and Javonte Graves-Billups having both moved on, however, Braylon Knauth was just starting to come into his own as a receiving threat last season, as the Orlando, FL., native finished the campaign with 16 catches for 240 yards and a pair of scores last season.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs will have some work to do developing continuity along the defensive front, where only one starter returns, in senior Chris Benton. Maurice Bonneau Jr. is expected to step into a starting role to provide some leadership at the position, as he was a key role player along the defensive front as a redshirt junior last season.
One young player that could see time sooner rather than later at linebacker is Michael Boulware out of Gray Collegiate Academy, where he was the Region 4 Defensive Player of the Year and an All-State selection. Boulware will be in competition with redshirt freshman Willie Smith Jr. to try and solidify the middle of the Bulldogs defense, which must replace two of its main leaders in the middle, with Mikey Rosa and Je'Mazin Roberts both having moved on.
The secondary was also hit hard by graduation and the transfer portal, with strong safety and all-conference leading tackler Cale Williams, as well as corners Bradlee Jones and Sayre Smothers having moved on. Peyton Betts and Temarcus Elam are the two main performers returning from the two-deep from last season, as each will be in contention to be the replacements at the free and strong safety positions.
Kickoff for the Paladins and Bulldogs on Nov. 7, 2026, is set for 2 p.m. EST. at Johnson-Hagood Stadium in Charleston.
The penultimate game of the 2026 regular-season will see Furman play host to the Chattanooga Mocs on Senior Day, as the Paladins look to put to rest a two-game skid against Chattanooga after having reeled off three-straight wins over the Mocs between 2022 and '23, and that included a 26-7 FCS Second Round Playoff triumph at Paladin Stadium in '23.
However, Chattanooga has exacted its revenge in each of the past two meetings with the Paladins, claiming a 41-10 win over the Paladins in 2024 and then last season, the Mocs saw a new starter under center, as Battle Alberson led Chattanooga to an impressive 45-28 win over the Paladins in the Scenic City on what was Senior Day for UTC at Finley Stadium last season.
Chattanooga, however, would go on to a disappointing 5-7 finish to the campaign, which included a 4-4 mark in league play to match the Paladins. The Mocs closed the season with a pair of disappointing, lopsided losses, including a 63-17 setback at No. 8 Mercer and followed that with a 35-13 loss at Wofford, snapping a five-game series winning streak for Chattanooga over the Terriers in the process.
While the Mocs didn't not meet preseason expectations that had them finishing No. 2 in the SoCon, like The Citadel, the Mocs faced an exceptionally tough non-conference slate, which included road games at No. 17 Tennessee Tech (L, 45-17) and at No. 3 Tarleton State (L, 52-24), while also having to open the season at perennial American Conference power Memphis (L, 45-10). The only real layup for the Mocs on the 2025 slate was a visit from Stetson in the home opener, which saw Chattanooga win easily, 63-0.
Just three years ago, Furman and Chattanooga were considered the cream of the crop programs in the SoCon hierarchy, and the two have spent much of the past two seasons either trying to regain that glory, or in Chattanooga's case, sustain it. The 2026 season appears to be one that might have the recipe for success for both the Mocs and Paladins.
In last season's clash, Furman's defense had no answers for the talented rookie quarterback Alberson, as he passed for 277 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 85 yards in his first career start, leading a UTC offense that racked up 529 yards in the 45-28 win.
Furman won the toss and deferred to the second half. After Chattanooga drove it down to the Furman 9 on its first possession of the day, Raleigh Herbert came around the corner and stopped Justus Durant short on a 4th-and-1 play to allow the Paladin offense to take over deep in their own territory and drove it 91 yards for the game's opening points with Ben Croasdale racing across the goal line from four yards out to make it a 7-0 lead with 2:20 remaining in the opening quarter.
The key play in the scoring drive was a 61-yard connection between Trey Hedden and Evan James to get the Paladin offense deep into Mocs territory at the Chattanooga 21.]
Chattanooga would get on the board on its ensuing drive to tie the game early in the second quarter, driving 75 yards in 10 plays following a 25-yard scoring toss from Battle Alberson to tight end Landon Strickland to tie the game 7-7 with 13:40 remaining in the half.
Furman's next drive would once again result in points, as the Paladins drove it 69 yards in 10 plays to make it a 14-7 game with 7:17 left in the half after CJ Nettles scampered in from three yards out to give the Paladins the lead back.
On its next possession, Chattanooga produced its first big chunk play of the afternoon, and it resulted in the game-tying score, as Alberson found Josh Williams over the middle for a 66-yard scoring strike to make its 14-14 game with 3:29 left in the half.
Furman would strike back just before the half, beginning with the kickoff return from true freshman Caleb Easterling. After racing 100 yards for a score last week against Mercer, Easterling set up Furman's final score before the half, returning the Mocs kickoff 76 yards down the sidelines to set up the Paladins at the UTC 23.
Five plays later, Hedden found Kerry King on a 9-yard scoring strike with just under two minutes left in the half to make it 21-14.
It didn't take the Mocs long to tie the game, as Alberson tossed his third scoring pass of the half when he found Markell Quick for a 47-yard TD with 46 seconds remaining in the half, tying the game 21-21.
Chattanooga's squib quick backfired and it gave the Paladins a chance to take a lead into the locker room. However, the Paladins lined up for a short chip shot field goal, which was blocked by the Mocs to preserve the tie as the two teams entered the halftime locker room.
On Furman's first drive of the second half, Chattanooga took the lead on the game's first turnover as Ky Tayo picked off a Hedden pass and returned it 57 yards for a score to make it a 28-21 Mocs lead with 13:01 remaining in the third quarter.
Following a Furman punt, Paladin defensive lineman Caldwell Bussey went down with what appeared to be a serious injury with just under 11 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Later in the drive, the Mocs would be faced with a 4th-and-7 and would convert it to keep a drive alive just inside the red zone. Joshua Stoneking came up with a big tackle-for-loss on a 3rd-and-1 play at the Furman 19, forcing the Mocs to settle for a 31-yard Jude Kelley field goal, as the Mocs increased their lead to 10, at 31-21, with 4:18 remaining in the third quarter.
Furman would answer back on its next possession, as Hedden found James for a 48-yard scoring strike with just under three minutes remaining in the third, as the Paladins pulled back to within three, at 31-28.
On Chattanooga's next possession, the Mocs punched it in once again to restore a 10-point lead on a 1-yard scoring plunge from Journey Wyche to make it a 38-28 game with 7:24 remaining.
The game-changing would come on Furman's next possession, as Hedden found tight end Joshua Burrell over the middle for 29 yards, however, as he turned his head to go up field, Burrell was hit immediately by Kam Baah-Slay, knocking the ball in the air and the ball was recovered by UTC's Kaelin Drakeford at the Furman 44 to come up with the Mocs' second turnover of the afternoon.
Six plays later, Chattanooga tacked on its final score of the day, as Alberson tossed his fourth scoring pass of the afternoon, finding Wyche out of the backfield for a 25-yard scoring pass to increase UTC's lead to 17 with 2:49 remaining after Jude Kelley's PAT.
The Paladins got the ball back once more, however, Hedden's pass was initially broken up by Kam Baah-Slay and off the carom, Amanuel Dickson officially ended the scoring threat and seal Chattanooga's fifth win of the season.
Alberson now appears to be the man in good position to take the reins of the offense once again this fall for Chattanooga, although the Mocs also procured some healthy competition for him to beat out from the transfer portal.
Parker Awad figures to be player that could be the one to challenge Alberson for the starting job under center this fall. Awad comes to UTC from New Mexico State, and he will have three years of eligibility remaining.
After spending two seasons at New Mexico State, Awad was the Aggies' leading passer in 2024, starting six of the seven games he logged in for the Aggies that season, finishing the campaign by completing 74-of-160 passes for 1,079 yards, with seven TDs and four INTs. In 2025, Awad saw action in just one game, garnering action in only one game, racking up a season-high 340 yards passing on 22-of-51 passing, three touchdowns and even 24 yards rushing.
There are several big losses on the offensive side of the ball that will have to be addressed by head coach Rusty Wright, who heads into his seventh season at the helm of the UTC football program in 2026. UTC must replace arguably its biggest offensive threat from a year ago, in wideout Markell Quick, who has moved on to play for Southern Illinois.
Wideout Jaden George, who redshirted last season and was a three-star recruit (247Sports) coming out of Kell High School, will be one to watch at wideout this season. Journey Wyche is the leading rusher for the Mocs, as Justus Durant, Ryan Ingram and Camden Orth have all moved on from the Mocs' program.
Another unit facing some major question marks entering the 2026 season for UTC will be its offensive line, which might have struggled more last season than any of the previous six under Wright. The good news is that three starters return to the fold for the upcoming season, guaranteeing at least some continuity.
One of those that has moved on--right tackle Ryan Merklinger--was one a second-team All-SoCon pick last season. Center Devin Lively, right guard Nick Paul, and left tackle Aidan Donald all return to the fold.
I expect the Mocs defense to be much better this season than they were a year ago, with the 2025 campaign being much more of an aberration than anything else. Experience abounds in the two-deep along the defensive line, with defensive ends Orlando Daniels and Jestin Gilmore and nose tackles Montrell Henderson and Ky Tayo all returning to the unit. Under Wright, when the Mocs are solid on defensively, they have almost always been dominant on the defensive front, and that has the potential to be the case once again this season.
Veteran linebacker Zion Rutledge returns at middle linebacker where he led the team with 100 tackles last season.
At the third level, the Mocs will miss the leadership of guys like Kaelin Drakeford and Jeremiah Baptiste, but Keyshawn Jackson and AJ Wallace are expected to step into those vacated positions at free safety and cornerback, respectively. Both nickel Martez Cooksey Jr. and strong safety Kam Baah-Slay are two playmakers to watch from that secondary unit this fall.
The past couple of seasons have seen the Mocs really go out and test themselves in the non-conference slate, and games at West Georgia, Eastern Kentucky and Alabama once again sees the Mocs taking on some substantial tests out of the league.
The Mocs and Paladins will be meeting for the 57th time on Nov. 14, with the Paladins holding a 33-23 all-time series edge. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. EST for the final regular-season home game of the season for the Paladins.
The final game of the regular-season for the Paladins will involve a tricky trip to Lexington, VA., to face off against the VMI Keydets in a game that, Furman fans will hope potentially has a chance to lock up a 16th SoCon Football crown, or better their positioning for an FCS Playoff bid.
The last time the Paladins' game with the Keydets was a harbinger of good things on the horizon was in 2023, as the Paladins posted a 37-3 win over VMI in what the final regular-season home game was, and Furman locked up its first outright Southern Conference football crown in 34 years.
The Paladins will face a VMI that will have its third different head coach since the Keydets won the SoCon regular-season football crown during the COVID-19 compromised 2020 season, which was moved to the spring, and the Keydets finished with a 6-2 record to claim their first gridiron title in the league since garnering a share of the league crown with Chattanooga back in 1979.
The man hoping to lead the Keydets back to the top of the SoCon will be former Carson-Newman head coach Ashley Ingram, who became the 34th head coach in the history of the program back in December.
However, Chattanooga has exacted its revenge in each of the past two meetings with the Paladins, claiming a 41-10 win over the Paladins in 2024 and then last season, the Mocs saw a new starter under center, as Battle Alberson led Chattanooga to an impressive 45-28 win over the Paladins in the Scenic City on what was Senior Day for UTC at Finley Stadium last season.
Chattanooga, however, would go on to a disappointing 5-7 finish to the campaign, which included a 4-4 mark in league play to match the Paladins. The Mocs closed the season with a pair of disappointing, lopsided losses, including a 63-17 setback at No. 8 Mercer and followed that with a 35-13 loss at Wofford, snapping a five-game series winning streak for Chattanooga over the Terriers in the process.
While the Mocs didn't not meet preseason expectations that had them finishing No. 2 in the SoCon, like The Citadel, the Mocs faced an exceptionally tough non-conference slate, which included road games at No. 17 Tennessee Tech (L, 45-17) and at No. 3 Tarleton State (L, 52-24), while also having to open the season at perennial American Conference power Memphis (L, 45-10). The only real layup for the Mocs on the 2025 slate was a visit from Stetson in the home opener, which saw Chattanooga win easily, 63-0.
Just three years ago, Furman and Chattanooga were considered the cream of the crop programs in the SoCon hierarchy, and the two have spent much of the past two seasons either trying to regain that glory, or in Chattanooga's case, sustain it. The 2026 season appears to be one that might have the recipe for success for both the Mocs and Paladins.
In last season's clash, Furman's defense had no answers for the talented rookie quarterback Alberson, as he passed for 277 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 85 yards in his first career start, leading a UTC offense that racked up 529 yards in the 45-28 win.
Furman won the toss and deferred to the second half. After Chattanooga drove it down to the Furman 9 on its first possession of the day, Raleigh Herbert came around the corner and stopped Justus Durant short on a 4th-and-1 play to allow the Paladin offense to take over deep in their own territory and drove it 91 yards for the game's opening points with Ben Croasdale racing across the goal line from four yards out to make it a 7-0 lead with 2:20 remaining in the opening quarter.
The key play in the scoring drive was a 61-yard connection between Trey Hedden and Evan James to get the Paladin offense deep into Mocs territory at the Chattanooga 21.]
Chattanooga would get on the board on its ensuing drive to tie the game early in the second quarter, driving 75 yards in 10 plays following a 25-yard scoring toss from Battle Alberson to tight end Landon Strickland to tie the game 7-7 with 13:40 remaining in the half.
Furman's next drive would once again result in points, as the Paladins drove it 69 yards in 10 plays to make it a 14-7 game with 7:17 left in the half after CJ Nettles scampered in from three yards out to give the Paladins the lead back.
On its next possession, Chattanooga produced its first big chunk play of the afternoon, and it resulted in the game-tying score, as Alberson found Josh Williams over the middle for a 66-yard scoring strike to make its 14-14 game with 3:29 left in the half.
Furman would strike back just before the half, beginning with the kickoff return from true freshman Caleb Easterling. After racing 100 yards for a score last week against Mercer, Easterling set up Furman's final score before the half, returning the Mocs kickoff 76 yards down the sidelines to set up the Paladins at the UTC 23.
Five plays later, Hedden found Kerry King on a 9-yard scoring strike with just under two minutes left in the half to make it 21-14.
It didn't take the Mocs long to tie the game, as Alberson tossed his third scoring pass of the half when he found Markell Quick for a 47-yard TD with 46 seconds remaining in the half, tying the game 21-21.
Chattanooga's squib quick backfired and it gave the Paladins a chance to take a lead into the locker room. However, the Paladins lined up for a short chip shot field goal, which was blocked by the Mocs to preserve the tie as the two teams entered the halftime locker room.
On Furman's first drive of the second half, Chattanooga took the lead on the game's first turnover as Ky Tayo picked off a Hedden pass and returned it 57 yards for a score to make it a 28-21 Mocs lead with 13:01 remaining in the third quarter.
Following a Furman punt, Paladin defensive lineman Caldwell Bussey went down with what appeared to be a serious injury with just under 11 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Later in the drive, the Mocs would be faced with a 4th-and-7 and would convert it to keep a drive alive just inside the red zone. Joshua Stoneking came up with a big tackle-for-loss on a 3rd-and-1 play at the Furman 19, forcing the Mocs to settle for a 31-yard Jude Kelley field goal, as the Mocs increased their lead to 10, at 31-21, with 4:18 remaining in the third quarter.
Furman would answer back on its next possession, as Hedden found James for a 48-yard scoring strike with just under three minutes remaining in the third, as the Paladins pulled back to within three, at 31-28.
On Chattanooga's next possession, the Mocs punched it in once again to restore a 10-point lead on a 1-yard scoring plunge from Journey Wyche to make it a 38-28 game with 7:24 remaining.
The game-changing would come on Furman's next possession, as Hedden found tight end Joshua Burrell over the middle for 29 yards, however, as he turned his head to go up field, Burrell was hit immediately by Kam Baah-Slay, knocking the ball in the air and the ball was recovered by UTC's Kaelin Drakeford at the Furman 44 to come up with the Mocs' second turnover of the afternoon.
Six plays later, Chattanooga tacked on its final score of the day, as Alberson tossed his fourth scoring pass of the afternoon, finding Wyche out of the backfield for a 25-yard scoring pass to increase UTC's lead to 17 with 2:49 remaining after Jude Kelley's PAT.
The Paladins got the ball back once more, however, Hedden's pass was initially broken up by Kam Baah-Slay and off the carom, Amanuel Dickson officially ended the scoring threat and seal Chattanooga's fifth win of the season.
Alberson now appears to be the man in good position to take the reins of the offense once again this fall for Chattanooga, although the Mocs also procured some healthy competition for him to beat out from the transfer portal.
Parker Awad figures to be player that could be the one to challenge Alberson for the starting job under center this fall. Awad comes to UTC from New Mexico State, and he will have three years of eligibility remaining.
After spending two seasons at New Mexico State, Awad was the Aggies' leading passer in 2024, starting six of the seven games he logged in for the Aggies that season, finishing the campaign by completing 74-of-160 passes for 1,079 yards, with seven TDs and four INTs. In 2025, Awad saw action in just one game, garnering action in only one game, racking up a season-high 340 yards passing on 22-of-51 passing, three touchdowns and even 24 yards rushing.
There are several big losses on the offensive side of the ball that will have to be addressed by head coach Rusty Wright, who heads into his seventh season at the helm of the UTC football program in 2026. UTC must replace arguably its biggest offensive threat from a year ago, in wideout Markell Quick, who has moved on to play for Southern Illinois.
Wideout Jaden George, who redshirted last season and was a three-star recruit (247Sports) coming out of Kell High School, will be one to watch at wideout this season. Journey Wyche is the leading rusher for the Mocs, as Justus Durant, Ryan Ingram and Camden Orth have all moved on from the Mocs' program.
Another unit facing some major question marks entering the 2026 season for UTC will be its offensive line, which might have struggled more last season than any of the previous six under Wright. The good news is that three starters return to the fold for the upcoming season, guaranteeing at least some continuity.
One of those that has moved on--right tackle Ryan Merklinger--was one a second-team All-SoCon pick last season. Center Devin Lively, right guard Nick Paul, and left tackle Aidan Donald all return to the fold.
I expect the Mocs defense to be much better this season than they were a year ago, with the 2025 campaign being much more of an aberration than anything else. Experience abounds in the two-deep along the defensive line, with defensive ends Orlando Daniels and Jestin Gilmore and nose tackles Montrell Henderson and Ky Tayo all returning to the unit. Under Wright, when the Mocs are solid on defensively, they have almost always been dominant on the defensive front, and that has the potential to be the case once again this season.
Veteran linebacker Zion Rutledge returns at middle linebacker where he led the team with 100 tackles last season.
At the third level, the Mocs will miss the leadership of guys like Kaelin Drakeford and Jeremiah Baptiste, but Keyshawn Jackson and AJ Wallace are expected to step into those vacated positions at free safety and cornerback, respectively. Both nickel Martez Cooksey Jr. and strong safety Kam Baah-Slay are two playmakers to watch from that secondary unit this fall.
The past couple of seasons have seen the Mocs really go out and test themselves in the non-conference slate, and games at West Georgia, Eastern Kentucky and Alabama once again sees the Mocs taking on some substantial tests out of the league.
The Mocs and Paladins will be meeting for the 57th time on Nov. 14, with the Paladins holding a 33-23 all-time series edge. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. EST for the final regular-season home game of the season for the Paladins.
The final game of the regular-season for the Paladins will involve a tricky trip to Lexington, VA., to face off against the VMI Keydets in a game that, Furman fans will hope potentially has a chance to lock up a 16th SoCon Football crown, or better their positioning for an FCS Playoff bid.
The last time the Paladins' game with the Keydets was a harbinger of good things on the horizon was in 2023, as the Paladins posted a 37-3 win over VMI in what the final regular-season home game was, and Furman locked up its first outright Southern Conference football crown in 34 years.
The Paladins will face a VMI that will have its third different head coach since the Keydets won the SoCon regular-season football crown during the COVID-19 compromised 2020 season, which was moved to the spring, and the Keydets finished with a 6-2 record to claim their first gridiron title in the league since garnering a share of the league crown with Chattanooga back in 1979.
The man hoping to lead the Keydets back to the top of the SoCon will be former Carson-Newman head coach Ashley Ingram, who became the 34th head coach in the history of the program back in December.
Ingram replaces Danny Rocco, who left shortly after the conclusion the 2025 season to join James Franklin's staff at Virginia Tech. Ingram will be hoping to change VMI football back to an identity it once knew under former coaches like Cal McCombs, Bill Stewart and Sparky Woods to name a few, and that is a dedication to the ground attack, utilizing some version of the option/veer as the chosen mode of operation on the ground.
How do we know that you might ask? Only because Ingram went out and made one of the blockbuster assistant coaching hires during the off-season, bringing in former The Citadel head coach Brent Thompson (2016-22), who was fired after seven seasons, which included leading the Bulldogs to a SoCon title in his first season at the helm in 2016.
In Furman's most recent meeting with VMI in 2025, the Paladins closed out the home portion of the slate in strong fashion, as the Paladins celebrated Senior Day with a 32-14 win over the Keydets at Paladin Stadium.
How do we know that you might ask? Only because Ingram went out and made one of the blockbuster assistant coaching hires during the off-season, bringing in former The Citadel head coach Brent Thompson (2016-22), who was fired after seven seasons, which included leading the Bulldogs to a SoCon title in his first season at the helm in 2016.
In Furman's most recent meeting with VMI in 2025, the Paladins closed out the home portion of the slate in strong fashion, as the Paladins celebrated Senior Day with a 32-14 win over the Keydets at Paladin Stadium.
True freshman wide receiver Evan James hauled in a pair of touchdown passes, and quarterback Trey Hedden connected on 33-of-46 passes for 275 yards and added a pair scoring tosses, as Furman made the most of its Senior Day, claiming a 32-14 win over VMI before an announced crowd of 8,527 fans Saturday afternoon at Paladin Stadium.
For the Paladins, though no one knew it at the time, but it would also be the final games for both freshman record-breaking wideout Evan James, as well as sophomore quarterback Trey Hedden, who both transferred up to the FBS level shortly after the season. James wasn't a huge surprise after the type of season he had, and while no one knew for sure it would be Hedden's final home game as a Paladin, there was wide speculation that it indeed might be.
As far as the game last November, things started well enough for the Keydets anyway. VMI won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. VMI would gain 15 yards on their first pass of the day and then gained four on Chandler Wilson second pass completion of the day.
After Joshua Stoneking broke up the next play to force a 3rd-and-6 situation, Wilson scrambled for a gain of seven yards and a first down on the next play to reach just inside Furman territory. An incompletion and a short gain on a pass forced another third down, and this time on third down Wilson was flushed from the pocket for no gain, forcing a VMI punt.
After one first down on its opening drive of the afternoon, Furman was forced to do likewise, as each team came up empty offensive on their respective opening drives of the contest.
Furman’s first attempt to put points on the board came from the leg of senior place-kicker Ian Williams, however, his 58-yard attempt, which had plenty of distance, was just wide to the right, leaving the score tied, 0-0, with 5:33 remaining in the opening quarter of play.
Furman would eventually draw first blood in the second quarter Hedden found James on a short flip pass for an eight-yard score, with James doing most of the work with his legs before running over a defender at the goal line to give the Paladins a 7-0 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the half.
The short scoring pass capped off a 68-yard scoring drive. The drive was set up by Furman gaining the only turnover of the day on a fumble recovery by Billy Lewis.
The Keydets answered on the ensuing drive, as Leo Boehling finished off the nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive with an 18-yard run up the middle, gashing the Paladin defense for the final 33 yards of the scoring drive, which tied the contest, 7-7, with 1:15 remaining in the half.
Furman made the most of the remaining time in the half, and it would be an acrobatic scoring catch from James, as he leapt over a VMI defensive back and touched a foot down to complete the 17-yard scoring catch with just 35 seconds remaining. After a pair of penalties against VMI on Furman's PAT attempt, the Paladins opted to go for two and the conversion attempt was successful by Jayquan Smith to make it 15-7. That would remain the score as the two teams entered the halftime locker room.
Smith would be responsible for the lone points for either team in the third quarter, as he capped an impressive 12-play, 85-yard drive with an eight-yard scoring run to give the Paladins a 22-7 lead with just under nine minutes remaining in the third.
Furman tacked on 10 points in the final frame, with Ben Croasdale scoring on a 1-yard plunge and Ian Williams knocking through a 51-yard field goal to increase Furman's lead to 32-7 with 8:15 remaining in the game. VMI's backup quarterback Nana Utsey added the final touchdown of the day, scoring on a 17-yard scramble with 32 seconds left to set the final score, at 32-14.
One of Brent Thompson's first responsibilities as the new Keydets offensive coordinator will be figuring out which quarterback best suits a ground-based, option attack like the one he had at The Citadel, which was led by outstanding practitioners of the craft like Brandon Rainey or Dominique Allen.
With the change in offensive style, former starter Collin Shannon saw the writing on the wall, and the dropback passer decided to move on to Murray State via the transfer portal. During his career at VMI, Shannon completed 247-of-442 passes for 2,936 yards, with 15 TDs and 12 INTs over much of what seemed like an injury-plagued playing career.
There are several candidates to replace the outgoing Collin Shannon under center for VMI this season and those will include the following candidates: true freshman Caden Baugh; Junior JoJo Crump; RS Junior Chandler Wilson; sophomore Nana Utsey; sophomore Ian Reynolds; and RS Sophomore Cody Shelton.
Nana Utsey is a guy that immediately stands out that could very well excel in Brent Thompson's presumed option offense. Utsey possesses all the necessary tools to be successful attributes to be successful in this type of offensive unit. Utsey logged action in nine games last season, rushing for 197 yards and three scores on 57 attempts, while also finishing the season by completing 15-of-41 passes for 215 yards with a pair of INTs. Utsey garnered his first-career start in the regular-season finale vs. Western Carolina.
Both Wilson and Crump bring experience with starts under their proverbial belts. Wilson started two games just this past season, as he finished out the season connecting on 26-of-54 passes for 197 yards, with a touchdown and an INT. JoJo Crump has seen over the past two seasons under center, but he's mostly been a threat in 'wildcat' situations. His skillset, much like Utsey's, would help enhance this offense overall.
The change in offensive philosophy will be a welcomed change, and it will hearken back to VMI's option roots, giving the Keydets the most sensible chance to be successful in the SoCon this fall.
As far as the rest of the offense is concerned, the Keydets will have a capable bowling ball of a running back to lead the offense, in rising senior Leo Boehling. Boehling comes off a 2025 campaign, which saw him post 537 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, as he logged 128 attempts (4.2 YPC) as the Keydets' leading rusher this past season.
Another candidate to draw plenty of attention as a running back in the VMI backfield this fall is Aslin Shipe. The junior from Ashburn, VA., comes off a 2025 campaign which saw him rush for 270 yards and a touchdown on 67 attempts this past fall, as he averaged 4.0 YPC.
Keydets fans are excited about the prospects of former Carson-Newman recruit and athlete Drew Parrott getting an opportunity to show what he can do in this new Keydets offense after he was a standout quarterback as a prep at Bearden HS, where he threw for 5,504 yards and 52 TDs in four years. He will compete for a spot on the VMI depth chart as a running back this fall.
Drew Ray is another running back coming aboard out of the Volunteer State where he was a standout running back, finishing as a finalist for Mr. Football in the state of Tennessee where he was an All-State selection after rushing for 1,642 yards and 32 TDs as a senior in 2025.
For the Paladins, though no one knew it at the time, but it would also be the final games for both freshman record-breaking wideout Evan James, as well as sophomore quarterback Trey Hedden, who both transferred up to the FBS level shortly after the season. James wasn't a huge surprise after the type of season he had, and while no one knew for sure it would be Hedden's final home game as a Paladin, there was wide speculation that it indeed might be.
As far as the game last November, things started well enough for the Keydets anyway. VMI won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. VMI would gain 15 yards on their first pass of the day and then gained four on Chandler Wilson second pass completion of the day.
After Joshua Stoneking broke up the next play to force a 3rd-and-6 situation, Wilson scrambled for a gain of seven yards and a first down on the next play to reach just inside Furman territory. An incompletion and a short gain on a pass forced another third down, and this time on third down Wilson was flushed from the pocket for no gain, forcing a VMI punt.
After one first down on its opening drive of the afternoon, Furman was forced to do likewise, as each team came up empty offensive on their respective opening drives of the contest.
Furman’s first attempt to put points on the board came from the leg of senior place-kicker Ian Williams, however, his 58-yard attempt, which had plenty of distance, was just wide to the right, leaving the score tied, 0-0, with 5:33 remaining in the opening quarter of play.
Furman would eventually draw first blood in the second quarter Hedden found James on a short flip pass for an eight-yard score, with James doing most of the work with his legs before running over a defender at the goal line to give the Paladins a 7-0 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the half.
The short scoring pass capped off a 68-yard scoring drive. The drive was set up by Furman gaining the only turnover of the day on a fumble recovery by Billy Lewis.
The Keydets answered on the ensuing drive, as Leo Boehling finished off the nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive with an 18-yard run up the middle, gashing the Paladin defense for the final 33 yards of the scoring drive, which tied the contest, 7-7, with 1:15 remaining in the half.
Furman made the most of the remaining time in the half, and it would be an acrobatic scoring catch from James, as he leapt over a VMI defensive back and touched a foot down to complete the 17-yard scoring catch with just 35 seconds remaining. After a pair of penalties against VMI on Furman's PAT attempt, the Paladins opted to go for two and the conversion attempt was successful by Jayquan Smith to make it 15-7. That would remain the score as the two teams entered the halftime locker room.
Smith would be responsible for the lone points for either team in the third quarter, as he capped an impressive 12-play, 85-yard drive with an eight-yard scoring run to give the Paladins a 22-7 lead with just under nine minutes remaining in the third.
Furman tacked on 10 points in the final frame, with Ben Croasdale scoring on a 1-yard plunge and Ian Williams knocking through a 51-yard field goal to increase Furman's lead to 32-7 with 8:15 remaining in the game. VMI's backup quarterback Nana Utsey added the final touchdown of the day, scoring on a 17-yard scramble with 32 seconds left to set the final score, at 32-14.
One of Brent Thompson's first responsibilities as the new Keydets offensive coordinator will be figuring out which quarterback best suits a ground-based, option attack like the one he had at The Citadel, which was led by outstanding practitioners of the craft like Brandon Rainey or Dominique Allen.
With the change in offensive style, former starter Collin Shannon saw the writing on the wall, and the dropback passer decided to move on to Murray State via the transfer portal. During his career at VMI, Shannon completed 247-of-442 passes for 2,936 yards, with 15 TDs and 12 INTs over much of what seemed like an injury-plagued playing career.
There are several candidates to replace the outgoing Collin Shannon under center for VMI this season and those will include the following candidates: true freshman Caden Baugh; Junior JoJo Crump; RS Junior Chandler Wilson; sophomore Nana Utsey; sophomore Ian Reynolds; and RS Sophomore Cody Shelton.
Nana Utsey is a guy that immediately stands out that could very well excel in Brent Thompson's presumed option offense. Utsey possesses all the necessary tools to be successful attributes to be successful in this type of offensive unit. Utsey logged action in nine games last season, rushing for 197 yards and three scores on 57 attempts, while also finishing the season by completing 15-of-41 passes for 215 yards with a pair of INTs. Utsey garnered his first-career start in the regular-season finale vs. Western Carolina.
Both Wilson and Crump bring experience with starts under their proverbial belts. Wilson started two games just this past season, as he finished out the season connecting on 26-of-54 passes for 197 yards, with a touchdown and an INT. JoJo Crump has seen over the past two seasons under center, but he's mostly been a threat in 'wildcat' situations. His skillset, much like Utsey's, would help enhance this offense overall.
The change in offensive philosophy will be a welcomed change, and it will hearken back to VMI's option roots, giving the Keydets the most sensible chance to be successful in the SoCon this fall.
As far as the rest of the offense is concerned, the Keydets will have a capable bowling ball of a running back to lead the offense, in rising senior Leo Boehling. Boehling comes off a 2025 campaign, which saw him post 537 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, as he logged 128 attempts (4.2 YPC) as the Keydets' leading rusher this past season.
Another candidate to draw plenty of attention as a running back in the VMI backfield this fall is Aslin Shipe. The junior from Ashburn, VA., comes off a 2025 campaign which saw him rush for 270 yards and a touchdown on 67 attempts this past fall, as he averaged 4.0 YPC.
Keydets fans are excited about the prospects of former Carson-Newman recruit and athlete Drew Parrott getting an opportunity to show what he can do in this new Keydets offense after he was a standout quarterback as a prep at Bearden HS, where he threw for 5,504 yards and 52 TDs in four years. He will compete for a spot on the VMI depth chart as a running back this fall.
Drew Ray is another running back coming aboard out of the Volunteer State where he was a standout running back, finishing as a finalist for Mr. Football in the state of Tennessee where he was an All-State selection after rushing for 1,642 yards and 32 TDs as a senior in 2025.
At wide receiver, the Keydets lost potentially their biggest offensive weapon from a year ago, in big-play threat Owen Sweeney, who has opted to continue his career at Marshall University after putting together a strong season for VMI this past season, hauling in 44 passes for 723 yards and a team-leading scores, averaging 16.4 YPR. Also gone is Noah Grievous from the receiving unit, as he led VMI in receiving yards as a redshirt freshman last season, hauling in 52 passes for 728 yards, including three TDs (14.0 YPR) last season.
Stony Brook transfer Brooks Martin is a candidate to be an immediate playmaker at wide receiver this fall, as well as other younger, up-and-coming talents at receiver like rising sophomore Treveion Slaughter.
Just two regulars return along the offensive line for the Keydets this fall, with left tackle Tristan Woodley and right guard Chase Aslett returning to try and help an offense see some kind of improvement after coming off a season which saw VMI rank 111th nationally (291.8 YPG) last fall.
Defensively, as you might imagine, things weren't much better for a team that struggled so much as a whole last season, as VMI completed the campaign with just a 1-11 overall record. Jared Backus is the newly announced defensive coordinator for the red and gold heading into the 2026 season after coming aboard from Cornell where he was the defensive coordinator and associate head coach.
The defensive line will see the return of veterans Elijah Brooks and Jacob Moore, as the Keydets will have a little continuity up front back for the 2026 season.
Three of four starters are back that started at linebacker last season for the Keydets, as outside linebackers EJ Wilburne and Henry Berling both return, as does inside linebacker Camden Clinton. Isaiah Grievous is the leading returning tackler on the defensive side of the ball, and he figures to step into Stephen Dean III's vacated defensive line spot vacated inside linebacker spot where he posted 60 tackles, 7.0 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks last season. He also recovered a pair of fumbles and forced one fumble for VMI last fall.
Kouri Crump is a major loss to the secondary, which is a unit that will have to almost be completely overhauled next season.
Furman hasn't exactly had an easy time in games played at VMI since the Keydets returned as an official league member back in 2014. In fact, the previous meeting at Foster Stadium in 2024 represents a low point maybe of Clay Hendrix's previous nine seasons as head coach of Furman, with the Paladins dropping what was a 21-17 loss in Lexington. The Paladins also dropped contests to VMI back in 2014 (L, 31-15) and in that VMI's SoCon title season in the spring of 2021 (L, 14-13).
The Paladins and Keydets will be meeting for the 44th time in the history of the series, which got its start back in 1946, as the Paladins dropped a 26-7 contest to the Keydets in Greenville. Since 1980, the Paladins have won 29 of 32 meetings between the two, which includes a streak of 21-straight wins in the series, stretching from 1980-2002. All told, Furman owns a commanding 32-11 lead in the all-time series.
Kickoff time for the regular-season finale in Lexington at Foster Stadium will be 1 p.m. EST
Stony Brook transfer Brooks Martin is a candidate to be an immediate playmaker at wide receiver this fall, as well as other younger, up-and-coming talents at receiver like rising sophomore Treveion Slaughter.
Just two regulars return along the offensive line for the Keydets this fall, with left tackle Tristan Woodley and right guard Chase Aslett returning to try and help an offense see some kind of improvement after coming off a season which saw VMI rank 111th nationally (291.8 YPG) last fall.
Defensively, as you might imagine, things weren't much better for a team that struggled so much as a whole last season, as VMI completed the campaign with just a 1-11 overall record. Jared Backus is the newly announced defensive coordinator for the red and gold heading into the 2026 season after coming aboard from Cornell where he was the defensive coordinator and associate head coach.
The defensive line will see the return of veterans Elijah Brooks and Jacob Moore, as the Keydets will have a little continuity up front back for the 2026 season.
Three of four starters are back that started at linebacker last season for the Keydets, as outside linebackers EJ Wilburne and Henry Berling both return, as does inside linebacker Camden Clinton. Isaiah Grievous is the leading returning tackler on the defensive side of the ball, and he figures to step into Stephen Dean III's vacated defensive line spot vacated inside linebacker spot where he posted 60 tackles, 7.0 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks last season. He also recovered a pair of fumbles and forced one fumble for VMI last fall.
Kouri Crump is a major loss to the secondary, which is a unit that will have to almost be completely overhauled next season.
Furman hasn't exactly had an easy time in games played at VMI since the Keydets returned as an official league member back in 2014. In fact, the previous meeting at Foster Stadium in 2024 represents a low point maybe of Clay Hendrix's previous nine seasons as head coach of Furman, with the Paladins dropping what was a 21-17 loss in Lexington. The Paladins also dropped contests to VMI back in 2014 (L, 31-15) and in that VMI's SoCon title season in the spring of 2021 (L, 14-13).
The Paladins and Keydets will be meeting for the 44th time in the history of the series, which got its start back in 1946, as the Paladins dropped a 26-7 contest to the Keydets in Greenville. Since 1980, the Paladins have won 29 of 32 meetings between the two, which includes a streak of 21-straight wins in the series, stretching from 1980-2002. All told, Furman owns a commanding 32-11 lead in the all-time series.
Kickoff time for the regular-season finale in Lexington at Foster Stadium will be 1 p.m. EST
2026 Schedule Analysis
This is a slate that is challenging, but manageable for Furman. Furman has looked to avoid NCAA Division II programs more often than not under the leadership of head coach Clay Hendrix, which is simply due mostly to it was once hard to overcome when it came to hacving a win that counted towards FCS at-large playoff selection, as it took away an opportunity to garner a win that counted towards the six needed to be eligible for FCS Playoff consideration.
However, in a 12-game schedule, Furman along with other schools in the league have the luxury of playing an NCAA Division II program from time-to-time, and when the Paladins open the '26 season on Thursday, Aug. 27, against Anderson, it will mark the first-ever meeting between the two, as well as offer the opportunity for one of Furman's own legendary pillars of its program--former Hall-of-Fame quarterback and SoCon Coach of the Year Bobby Lamb (Furman, '86) a chance to return to Paladin Stadium on the opening Thursday night of the season.
Anderson is a start-up program that will be in its third season of operation this fall under Lamb, and it's a Trojans team that should challenge the Paladins in the opener. Furman will do the best it can to get through its trip to Knoxville and SEC power Tennessee before opening SoCon play on the road at two-time defending champion Mercer on Sept. 12.
To me, this is when Furman's '26 season really begins. The game at Five Star Stadium against the two-time defending league champs will most likely serve as a momentum swing game. The game will either prove a stepping stone to a big season, or a stumbling block out of the gate. Furman will hope the former rather than the latter, as in 14 of its 15 SoCon title winning seasons, the Paladins have opened the campaign with a win in league play, with the only one in which they did not being 2018, as Furman opened with a 29-27 loss at East Tennessee State in a game it held a 27-6 third quarter lead. The Paladins, ironically, would clinch a share of the league title on the final day of the regular-season, with a 35-30 win at Mercer.
Overall, this schedule sets up nicely, with home games in league against Chattanooga, WCU, Wofford and Samford, while the Paladins will be on the road at newly christened league member Tennessee Tech (Oct. 10), as well as having games at Mercer (Sept. 12), at The Citadel (Nov. 7), and at VMI (Nov. 21), while avoiding ETSU all together on the 2026 league slate.
Non-conference games at Richmond (first meeting since '05) and a home game against Celebration Bowl champion South Carolina State (Sept. 19) are two intriguing non-conference games. Overall, this is a schedule that is tough, however, manageable, as the Paladins expect to challenge for a 16th SoCon title this fall. Below is a predicted win-loss schedule and final projected record for the 2026 season.
2026 Furman Schedule Projection and Final Record
Aug. 27 vs. Anderson W, 28-10
Sept. 5, at Tennessee L, 56-14
Sept. 12 at Mercer* W, 21-16
Sept. 19 vs. South Carolina State W, 21-10
Sept. 26 at Richmond L, 17-14
Oct. 3 vs. Wofford* W, 24-14
Oct. 10 at Tennessee Tech* L, 17-16
Oct. 24 vs. Samford* W, 31-17
Oct. 31 vs. Western Carolina W, 35-31
Nov. 7 at The Citadel* L, 24-21
Nov. 14 vs. Chattanooga* W, 28-21
Nov. 21 at VMI* W, 33-12
Final Record: 8-4 overall/6-2 SoCon T-2nd
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